St Andrews House

Updated 24 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 27 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 24 December 2020

About the service

St Andrews House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 24 people, including younger adults who have a physical disability. It is an extended, detached older property located in the town centre of Barnoldswick. Accommodation was provided on two floors with a passenger lift. There were 22 people living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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

People told us they felt safe and were happy with the service they received. They said they enjoyed living in the home and staff were kind, friendly and caring. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse. Recruitment processes had improved and ensured new staff were suitable. There were enough numbers of staff to meet people's needs and to ensure their safety. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked. Risk assessments enabled people to retain their independence and receive support with minimum risk to themselves or others. The home was clean and free from hazards.

People’s care and support needs were assessed prior to them using the service to ensure their needs could be met. They were supported to live healthy lives and had access to professionals, a well-trained staff team and a choice of a nutritious diet. The home worked with partnership with other organisations to provide effective and consistent care. 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.

Management and staff had developed friendly, caring and respectful relationships with people using the service and their families. People were treated as individuals which helped protect their dignity. People’s equality and diversity was respected by a caring staff team. Staff understood the importance of giving people their time and knew the importance of encouraging people to maintain their independence.

People’s care was tailored to their needs, routines and preferences and staff knew people well. People had access to a wide range of organised activities and entertainments and links with local community groups enhanced people's lives. People could see their visitors as they wished and maintain relationships that were important to them. People did not have any complaints about the service but were confident to raise any issues.

People were happy with the way the service was managed and told us they would recommend the home. Staff felt valued and enjoyed working at the home. There were systems to assess and monitor the quality of the service and the practice of staff and appropriate action was taken when shortfalls were noted. People’s views and opinions of the service were sought and acted on.

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 requires improvement (published 13 March 2019). 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 improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.