Ardent Residential Care Home

Updated 28 April 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

Two inspectors inspected this service.

Ardent Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Ardent Residential Care Home 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

A registered manager was working at the service.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the 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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and spent time observing people. We spoke with 7 members of staff including the registered manager and deputy manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care records and 4 medicines records. We looked at 2 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 28 April 2023

About the service

Ardent Residential Care Home is a care home without nursing registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 23 people. People living at the service are mostly older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 14 people using the service.

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

People told us they were happy with the care they received. Comments from people included; “They always bring me a cup of tea and chat with me.” Another said; “I like it here.” People looked relaxed, happy and comfortable with staff supporting them. Staff were caring and spent time chatting with people as they moved around the service.

The environment was safe and there was equipment available to support staff in providing safe care and support. However, the registered manager discussed the environment with us, which required updating and attention, with some areas found to be neglected and in a poor state of repair. A tour of the premises showed areas in need of improvement. Previous inspections had noted the need for improvement works and we had made a recommendation. We found that not all repairs and updates had been completed as stated on the services action plan, sent to us after the last inspection.

Staff were recruited safely in sufficient numbers to ensure people’s needs were met. However, we observed times when there was not much going on for people on the day of the inspection. The registered manager said they were actively looking to employ an activity coordinator to focus on this. Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm.

People were supported to access healthcare services, staff recognised changes in people's health, and sought professional advice appropriately. Medicines were ordered, stored and disposed of safely.

People were protected from abuse and neglect. People's care plans and risk assessments were clear. Records were accessible and up to date. The management and staff knew people well and worked together to help ensure people received a good service.

People were supported by staff who completed an induction and received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. This included fire safety and dementia care training.

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’s communication needs were identified, and where they wanted, people had end of life wishes explored and recorded.

Staff told us the registered manager was available, assisted them daily and helped cover shifts when some staff had been absent with COVID-19. They went onto say how the registered manager was approachable and listened when any concerns or ideas were raised. One staff member said; “Very supportive.”

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 31 December 2022).

Why we inspected

We were prompted to carry out this inspection due to concerns we received about the service, care provider and staffing.

A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. 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 not changed and remains requires improvement. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe, Effective and Well led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ardent Residential Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

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.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to Premises and Equipment. The service remains in breach of Good Governance and Notification of other Incidents.

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