Cedar House

Updated 5 May 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cedar House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care worker and care workers. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with two professionals who were visiting the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with three relatives.

Updated 5 May 2021

About the service

Cedar House is a residential home that provides accommodation and personal care for adults with a range of care and support needs, including adults who are living with dementia. The service can accommodate up to 32 people in one adapted building over two floors. At the time of this inspection there were 21 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received safe care from staff who had been provided with safeguarding training. There were risk plans in place to protect and promote people’s safety. Staffing numbers were being maintained to keep people safe and the registered manager followed the established recruitment procedures to ensure staff employed were suitable for their role. Medicines were stored, managed and administered safely.

People's needs were assessed before they moved into the service to ensure they could receive the care they required. Staff received training and support to carry out their roles and responsibilities. People enjoyed a varied and nutritious diet. Staff worked with external professionals to promote people’s health and wellbeing. 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. We have made a recommendation about the environment for people living with dementia.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted. Privacy was encouraged and maintained.

Staff knew people well and encouraged people to take part in activities which were meaningful to them. There were policies and procedures in place to manage complaints appropriately. Effective systems were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided through a range of internal checks and audits.

Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 18 September 2019) and there were three breaches of regulation. 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 regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.