Halsdown Nursing Home

Updated 27 February 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 the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

The Inspection took place on 29 January 2021 and was announced.

Updated 27 February 2021

This comprehensive inspection took place on the 11 and 19 January 2018, the first day was unannounced. At the last inspection, in August 2015 we rated the service as ‘Good’ overall and in the Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well led domains and as Outstanding in Caring. 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. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Halsdown Nursing Home 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. Halsdown Nursing Home provides nursing care for older people, some of whom are living with dementia. It is a two storey adapted building with 14 rooms, three of which can accommodate couples who wish to share a room.

The registered provider is also the registered manager of the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Staff developed exceptionally positive caring and compassionate relationships with people. The ethos of the home was that of an extended family. Staff were highly motivated and found ways to value each person’s contribution and treat them with the utmost dignity and respect. The home was organised around people’s needs, by staff who knew what was important to each person.

People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death. The service worked with hospice staff to improve end of life care for people. Staff followed national best practice guidance such as 'One chance to get it right' and NICE guidelines for end of life care (2015) and were working towards The Gold Standards Framework (GSF). This helped staff have the skills and confidence to help people have a good death.

Staff undertook 'Dementia Friends' training to understand various types of dementia affected people, they encouraged and supported people living with dementia to live well. Dignity training was provided in innovative ways to promote best practice. Staff sought out opportunities to praise and value people.

Staff demonstrated a good awareness of each person's safety and how to minimise risks for them. People's risk assessments were comprehensive with actions taken to reduce the risks as much as possible. We found the hot water supply to hand wash basins in people’s rooms and in bathrooms was too hot. We made the deputy manager aware of this risk. They took immediate action to address and arranged for thermostatically controlled valves to be fitted in all rooms the next day. This meant hot water temperatures were reduced to within safe recommended limits.

Staff understood the signs of abuse and knew how to report concerns, including reporting to external agencies. A detailed recruitment process was in place to ensure people were cared for by suitable staff. People received their medicines safely and on time from staff that were trained and assessed to manage medicines safely. People received their prescribed medicines on time and in a safe way.

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. People were supported by staff who were trained and had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff had received a full induction and were knowledgeable about the signs of abuse and how to report concerns.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. DoLS provide legal protection for those vulnerable people who are, or may become, deprived of their liberty. The service had made appropriate applications to the local authority DoLS team for people they had assessed as needing to be deprived of their liberty.

People's health and wellbeing was improved by staff who worked with a range of professionals to support them to lead a healthy lifestyle and access healthcare services. Staff promoted people’s health through good nutrition and hydration.

People received personalised care that responded to their changing needs. People’s care records were detailed about their individual needs. A variety of group and personalised activities were provided which supported people with mental alertness, self-esteem and social inclusion. People concerns were listened to and responded to and no complaints had been received since the last inspection.

People, relatives, staff and professionals consistently praised the consistently high standard of care at Halsdown. The service was well led by the registered manager and deputy manager, who led by example. Staff used evidence of what works best to continually review and improve their practice. People, relatives and staff were regularly consulted and involved in developing the service.