• Care Home
  • Care home

Pen Inney House

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Lewannick, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7QD (01566) 782318

Provided and run by:
Mr & Mrs L Difford

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 1 December 2022

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 carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Pen Inney 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. Pen Inney is a care home without 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for 6 weeks and was in the process of submitting an application to register.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 the manager and a registered manager from one of the provider's other services. We spoke with 7 people, 4 care staff and the cook. We reviewed 3 people’s care records, medicine administration records and 3 staff files. We also reviewed rotas and other records relating to the management of the service. After the site visit we spoke with 4 relatives on the phone. We received feedback from 2 external healthcare professionals.

Overall inspection

Requires improvement

Updated 1 December 2022

About the service

Pen Inney is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 20 people. The service provides support to older people. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

The service is on 2 floors with access to the upper floor via stairs or a stair lift. Some rooms have en-suite facilities and there are shared bathrooms, shower facilities and toilets. Shared living areas include a lounge, dining room, garden and patio seating area.

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

People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice.

There were gaps in monitoring systems. For example, some people living at Pen Inney House were unable to make decisions in relation to their care and support due to their health. Restrictions had been put in place to keep people safe. Records to demonstrate the restrictions were in line with legislation had been archived and the restrictive practices were not being monitored. The manager assured us they would audit the restrictive practices in place and take steps to ensure these were reasonable, proportionate and in people’s best interest.

Checks on fire equipment were carried out, however, the records to evidence these checks had taken place were not always completed. The records indicated a fault in equipment had been identified. It was not clear if any action had been taken to rectify this.

There were no systems in place for gathering feedback from people living at Pen Inney House, or their families.

Other audits had been completed, for example medicine administration records and accident and incident forms were checked regularly to identify any areas for improvement.

Risks were identified and recorded. Risk assessments and guidance for staff on how to minimise risks were not always available and we have made a recommendation about this in the report.

People told us they felt safe living at the service and they trusted staff and considered them skilled and competent. Training records showed staff training was up to date.

Pen Inney House was located in a rural village and there were strong links with the local community. Areas of the building were in need of updating and this was being planned. People’s bedrooms were spacious. When identified as necessary, alterations had been made to ensure the environment met people’s needs.

Staff told us they were well supported. They received regular supervision and the manager frequently worked alongside staff which allowed them to monitor staff skills and values. Staff told us morale was good and they had a shared set of values. They knew people well and understood their needs and preferences.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 24 April 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the effective and well-led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Pen Inney House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified a breach in relation to the oversight of the service

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.