Archived: Canterbury House Care Home

Updated 27 September 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

Canterbury House 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. Canterbury House 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 30 May 2022 and ended on 16 June 2022. We visited the service on 30 May 2022.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about the service, what it does 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 four people and three relatives about their experience of the service. We observed staff interactions with people in the communal areas. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, care manager, deputy manager, operations director, regional support manager, carers and housekeeper.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care plans and all the medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including checks and audits.

Updated 27 September 2022

About the service

Canterbury House Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for up to 66 people requiring personal care to in one large purpose-built building. The service provides support to older people who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 35 people using the service.

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

People were not always safe living at the service. Potential risks to people’s health and welfare had not been consistently assessed and there was not always guidance for staff to reduce the risks.

Accidents and incidents had been recorded and analysed but action taken had not been effective in mitigating risks and trying to significantly reduce them from happening again. Checks and audits had been completed but there was little evidence that learning from previous incidents had been used to improve the quality of the service or reduce risks.

There was not always enough staff to support people and keep them safe. Staff worked in a task-orientated way and consequently people were not always treated with dignity and respect. There were not always positive outcomes for people with more complex needs.

People were supported by staff, who did not have the skills and training to support them safely. Staff were supporting people living with health conditions such as diabetes and requiring catheter care. Some staff had no previous social care experience and they had not received appropriate training to support people with health conditions.

People were supported to eat a balanced diet, however, staff had not always acted when people had not drunk enough fluid to meet their target fluid intake. People received their medicines as prescribed, records of administration were not always accurate.

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.

The registered manager understood their responsibility to report concerns of discrimination or abuse to the local safeguarding authority. People were referred to healthcare professionals when their needs changed. People’s end of life wishes had been recorded in their care plan.

People had been involved in activities and celebrations, people told us they had enjoyed the Easter and Mother’s Day activities. The provider had a complaints procedure in place, this had been followed when complaints were received. People and relatives were invited to regular meetings where they were able to make suggestions about the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 June 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of risks around people’s eating and drinking. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe, effective, caring 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.

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 breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, staffing and well-led at this inspection.

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.