We carried out a review of the data available to us about Polonia Residential Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Polonia Residential Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Polonia Residential Home is a 'care home'. The service can support up to 9 people aged 65 and over and mainly from eastern European backgrounds living with dementia. On the day of the inspection 8 people were living at the service
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and knew where to report them if they had concerns.
Risk assessments were in place for people and their specific health needs. Staff were able to tell us about individual risks and how to manage them. Environmental risks were well managed in order to keep people safe. Infection control was well managed, the home was clean and free from odour. Policies in place protected people and visitors.
There were enough staff available to make sure people received the personal care and support that they needed. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs.
Since our last inspection we found the provider has completed a full-service review of their training resources provided to staff. This meant inexperienced or new staff were provided with the care certificate during their induction. Staff had regular support through supervisions.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The provider's quality assurance processes had improved and were effective in driving improvements across the service. This was evident in the premises; fire safety and training ensure people received a safe service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 July 2021) and there was breach of regulation 17. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation 17.
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 6 April 2023. We undertook this focused inspection to check the service had followed their action plan and to confirm improvements were made.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective and well-led.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Polonia Residential Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service can support up to nine people aged 65 and over and mainly from eastern European backgrounds living with dementia. On the day of the inspection eight people were living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider had better oversight of the home’s maintenance and safety checks were in place for gas, fire, water and electrical safety. Fire safety arrangements were in place; however, the home’s fire risk assessment had not been completed by a competent person in this area. Assurances were provided a new fire risk assessment would be undertaken by a competent assessor.
Procedures to support the safe recruitment of staff had improved and there were enough staff on duty to provide the support people needed. People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination because staff knew what actions to take if they identified concerns.
New flooring in the home replaced the previous patterned carpets, however the home required further modernisation to create a dementia friendly environment for people using the service.
The home was clean, and all staff completed training in infection prevention and control. There were clear measures in place to manage the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we signposted the registered manager to guidance to ensure the home’s infection control policy and procedures included the Coronavirus pandemic.
Staff received support via supervisions and training the provider considered mandatory. However, the provider’s induction process for new staff needed to be revamped to ensure the Care Certificate (an accredited course) or its equivalent was introduced.
During the inspection we identified outstanding notifications of events which should have been sent to CQC, when they had occurred. This demonstrated a lack of effective oversight and systems within the service.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported
this practice. However, the provider’s oversight of people’s Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) needed to be improved, records on the day of inspection were not available.
People living at the home were happy and supported well by caring staff. People received care and support personalised to their individual needs and suited to their communication preferences.
Risk assessments and care plans were thorough and up to date and provided staff with enough detail to support people safely. Plans had also been translated in people’s preferred language.
Improvements of the homes risk management procedures were found following our last inspection. However, the service needed to implement new quality systems to ensure there was a better oversight of performance and quality at provider level. Despite our findings, people we spoke with were happy with the care provided and staff felt supported by the registered manager.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 28 May 2019). At the last inspection we issued the provider with a warning notices for Regulation 15, 17 and 19. At this inspection we found persistent issues connected to the home’s governance systems and the home remained in breach of regulation 17.
Why we inspected
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and establish if they were meeting the legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection the service was rated Requires Improvement. The report was published in March 2018. We found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014 relating to recruitment and governance.
People’s experience of using this service:
At this inspection we found evidence the service did not meet the characteristics of Good in all areas. We have made two recommendations to the provider about creating a more dementia-friendly environment and meaningful activities for people living with dementia.
We identified three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 relating to equipment safety, recruitment and governance. Details of action we have asked the provider to take can be found at the end of this report.
The provider did not have a thorough overview of the quality of the service provision. Audit processes were not sufficiently robust. This meant people were at risk of harm because the provider did not have effective checks in place to monitor the quality of the service.
Recruitment processes were not safe. This meant people were not protected from the risk of unsuitable staff being employed.
People and their relatives told us the service was safe. Medicines were administered and stored safely.
There were sufficient and adequately trained staff to support people safely. The provider had suitable systems in place to protect people from abuse.
People were supported in a friendly and respectful way. People, relatives and staff got on well. Staff had a good knowledge of people’s personalities and their behaviours.
The atmosphere at the home was warm and welcoming. People and relatives told us staff supported them in a compassionate and caring manner.
There was a complaints policy in place, but no one had cause to raise any complaints.
More information is in the full report.
Why we inspected:
This inspection was planned based on the previous rating. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of Safe and Well Led to at least good. We found the provider had not made sufficient improvements and that there were ongoing concerns in these areas. We found new concerns relating to equipment safety.
Enforcement: Action we told provider to take (refer to end of full report).
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit in line with our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Polonia Care Home is a residential home providing care to nine older people mainly from Eastern European backgrounds. There are seven single bedrooms and one shared room.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People did receive their prescribed medicines on time and medication was stored safely. Medicines were audited regularly and balances of medicines were correct.
Staff were aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse, how to report concerns and who they would report to. There was a whistle blowing policy in place and staff were aware of the policy and were also aware of the safeguarding policy.
Pre-employment checks for new staff members were not always completed satisfactorily.
There were policies, procedures and risk assessments in place in relation to health and safety and fire safety. However the polices required further work to personalise them to the service.
Staff were kind and caring to people living at the service. They were knowledgeable about the person and their needs and followed care plans to support people.
People living at the service had risk assessments in place but further work was required to document the management of the risks and plans in place to reduce the risks.
Staff received training appropriate to the service and staff were given the opportunity to continue their own personal development. They were given the opportunity to attend staff meetings and receive regular supervision.
People and their representatives and health professionals were very complimentary of the service and the staff team.
People's health needs were met in a timely manner and the service had access to advice and support from a care home team who was able to offer earlier diagnosis to illness which reduced the likelihood of people requiring admission to hospital.
The service was working within the principles of the Mental capacity Act 2005 and the service made appropriate referrals if people were being deprived of their liberty.
At this inspection we found two breaches of the Regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to the safe recruitment of staff and good governance. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.