Priority Care Home

Updated 26 May 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

This inspection was completed by an inspector, a medicines inspector, a regulatory officer and an Expert by Experience. 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

Priority Care Home 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. Priority 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.

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.

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 sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We contacted Healthwatch for information they held about the service. 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We completed observations of the care provided and staff interaction with people who lived at the service. We spoke with 9 members of staff this included the registered manager, nominated individual, deputy manager, senior care staff, care staff and ancillary staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with 6 people who lived at the service and 7 relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and 8 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 26 May 2023

About the service

Priority Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 37 people. The service is located in the residential area of Bradford and provides support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people using the service. Accommodation is provided in one adapted building with lift access set over 3 floors. The ground floor has a communal dining area and lounges.

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

Risks were not always mitigated to help ensure people received safe care. Medicines administration procedures required improvement to ensure people always received their prescribed medicines when they should. There was regular review of care plans and risk assessments. However, audits had failed to identify the areas for improvement about safe medicines administration.

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.

People and relatives generally told us they felt safe and were confident concerns would be addressed. There was review of when things go wrong and lessons learnt. We have made a recommendation about assessing and reporting safeguarding concerns after accidents and incidents have been investigated.

Records we reviewed showed staff were recruited safely. Staffing levels were appropriate to meet people's needs. . People and relatives were involved in the development of their care plans where appropriate.

Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities. They felt well supported by the management team members. The provider gathered a range of views about the service, was responsive to feedback and took immediate action to address concerns we raised during the inspection.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (13 October 2022). 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 the provider remained in breach of regulations. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last 2 consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 13 October May 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, safe recruitment and governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led which contain those requirements.

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 remained requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report. We have made a recommendation about assessing and reporting safeguarding concerns after accidents and incidents have been investigated.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.