Silvermere Care Home

Updated 17 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe, and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 25 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 17 March 2021

This inspection took place on 19 October 2018 and was unannounced.

Silvermere is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home can accommodate a maximum of 72 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 61 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection in February 2016 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

Why the service is rated Good.

People felt safe and secure at the home. People told us staff were available when they needed them and responded promptly if they used their call bells. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and were aware of their responsibilities should they suspect abuse was taking place. People were protected by the provider’s recruitment procedures.

Any risks involved in people’s care were identified through assessment and action taken to minimise them. Medicines were managed safely. Health and safety checks were carried out regularly to keep the premises and equipment safe for use. The home was clean and hygienic and staff maintained appropriate standards of infection control. There were plans in place to ensure people would continue to receive their care in the event of an emergency.

People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the home and kept under review. Staff encouraged people to make choices in their day-to-day lives and understood the importance of supporting people to make decisions for themselves. Some documentation relating to mental capacity assessments and DoLS applications had been completed inappropriately, although this had not led to inappropriate applications being made. The registered manager acted promptly to address these issues when we pointed them out during the inspection.

Staff had the induction, training and support they needed to do their jobs. All staff had an induction when they started work and access to ongoing training relevant to the needs of the people they cared for. Staff attended regular one-to-one supervision with their line managers, which gave them the opportunity to discuss any further training they needed.

People and their relatives spoke highly of the food provided at the home. People were encouraged to give feedback about the food and their views were considered when developing the menu. Relatives told us they enjoyed joining their family members for meals at the home. People’s nutritional needs had been assessed and were known by care and catering staff. Staff supported people to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration.

People’s healthcare needs were monitored effectively and people were supported to obtain treatment if they needed it. Referrals were made to healthcare professionals if staff identified concerns about people’s health or well-being. Any guidance about people’s care issued by healthcare professionals was implemented and recorded in people’s care plans.

The design and layout of the home was suitable for people’s needs. People lived in an environment that was furnished and decorated to a high standard and had access to large, well-maintained gardens. Adaptations and equipment had been installed to maximise people’s mobility and safety. People were able to personalise their bedrooms to reflect their individual tastes and preferences.

People told us staff were kind and caring. They said staff treated them with respect and maintained their dignity when providing their care. Relatives praised the caring nature of staff, including when people neared the end of their lives. Several relatives highlighted the welcoming atmosphere as an aspect of the home that they and their family members valued.

People and relatives told us the activities programme was one of the home’s strengths. People enjoyed the wide range of activities available and valued the opportunity to go on trips and outings. The activities programme also provided opportunities for people to engage with others from their local community. Staff ensured that people who did not participate on group activities or outings were protected from social isolation.

People and their relatives knew how to complain and were confident any concerns they raised would be addressed. Complaints were investigated and responded to appropriately and used to improve the service.

The home had an established management team which maintained a good oversight of the service. Managers were accessible and provided good role models for staff in their own attitudes and behaviours. People and their relatives were encouraged to give their views about the home and their suggestions were acted upon. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.