Sand Banks Care Centre

Updated 24 February 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 undertaken by one inspector and one specialist nurse advisor. An Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Sand Banks Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Sand Banks Care Centre is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 26 January 2023 and ended on 7 February 2023. We visited the service on 26 January 2023 and 30 January 2023.

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, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people who used the service and 8 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, group operations manager, quality and compliance manager, operation support assistant, deputy manager, the chef and 4 care assistants.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and medication records. We looked at 3 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.

Updated 24 February 2023

About the service

Sandbanks Care Centre is a care home which provides nursing and residential care for up to 77 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia. The accommodation is provided across three floors, each with their own adapted facilities. There were several communal areas and a large garden for people to use. At the time of our inspection there were 65 people using the service.

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

Risks to people were regularly assessed and appropriate measures were in place to minimise risk. There were enough staff to meet people's care needs. Staff were recruited safely, and appropriate checks were completed prior to employment. People's medicines were managed safely, and staff followed correct infection control procedures. Accidents and incidents were recorded, and actions were taken to mitigate the risk of reoccurrence.

Staff had received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role. People were provided with enough to eat and drink and their nutritional needs were met.

People's care was personalised to their individual preferences. Staff knew people's needs, life histories and preferences well. People told us staff were caring and spoke positively about living at the home.

Staff promoted individual's dignity and privacy. Care plans were regularly reviewed, and staff could access relevant information to ensure they continued to provide the support people needed. People were supported with end of life care by suitably trained staff. The service provided a range of activities however there was mixed feedback from relatives about lack of activities.

The registered manager was well respected by staff. Staff felt well informed and supported to undertake their roles. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality and standard of 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.

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 13 July 2021) and there were 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 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.