We carried out a review of the data available to us about Sweetcroft Residential Care 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 Sweetcroft Residential Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Sweetcroft Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 19 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 20 people. Since the last inspection, the home has changed provider in September 2019 to a family run business called J & B Care Home Limited.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff knew how to respond to possible safeguarding concerns. Safe recruitment procedures were followed and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Medicines were managed safely. Staff followed appropriate infection control practices to prevent cross infection.
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. People were supported to maintain healthy lives and access healthcare services appropriately.
Staff were supported to develop their skills and provide appropriate care through inductions, supervisions, appraisals, training and team meetings.
People and their relatives told us people were cared for by kind and supportive staff who knew the needs of the people they cared for. People were involved in decisions and independence was promoted.
Care plans were personalised and recorded people’s preferences, so staff knew how to respond to people’s needs appropriately. People told us there were a number of activities on offer that they enjoyed.
The provider had systems in place to monitor, manage and improve service delivery and to improve the care and support provided to people.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, published on 5 August 2019. The service was registered under the new provider J & B Care Home Limited, on 11 September 2019.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
We found the following examples of good practice.
Appropriate measures were in place to help prevent and control the spread of infection. People and visitors were monitored for symptoms related to COVID-19.
The provider had appropriate procedures in place for visitors. These included an advance booking system, a designated entrance for visitors, an outside route to visiting areas and all visitors wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Alternatives to visiting in person so people could maintain their relationships with family and friends included video and telephone calls. A monthly newsletter was sent to families to keep them informed of what was happening in the home and included information about the impact of COVID-19. Processes were in place to support relatives to visit people receiving end of life care.
People were admitted safely to the service from the community and hospital. Prior to coming into the home, people were required to have a negative COVID-19 test and then isolated for 14 days once in the home. The provider recently improved their procedures for people entering the home. Staff now wait in the car park for new people being admitted or for people returning to the home to support them with PPE and to come in through the back door to avoid communal areas.
Processes in place to ensure staff used PPE appropriately included additional training and monitoring of the use of PPE and hand washing. PPE stations were placed at either end of corridors with appropriate signage and staff wore appropriate PPE when supporting people with personal care. The provider had adequate stocks of PPE.
Testing of people who used the service and staff was completed in line with current guidance.
Staff maintained social distancing where possible and the environment had been rearranged to promote this.
The provider had cleaning schedules in place which indicated specific tasks that needed to be completed and these were signed off daily. We also saw weekly and monthly audits to monitor cleaning and infection control.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.