We carried out a review of the data available to us about Scarborough House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Scarborough House, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following areas of good practice:
Staff worked hard to ensure that people at Scarborough House could maintain contact with family and friends during periods when COVID-19 restrictions did not allow indoor visits. An outdoor area had been devised where people could meet their visitors. Window visits were facilitated, alongside virtual chats on phones and tablets.
All staff undertook both PCR and lateral flow tests in order to protect the people they cared for. Where staff tested positive, they were supported to isolate at home and the appropriate authorities informed. Handovers and staff breaks had been modified to ensure that only small groups gathered at any one time. If staff did meet in one room, they remained socially distant and wore PPE.
The home had purchased adequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure that staff could protect themselves and people living in the home. Staff had received training from both external and internal trainers with regard to donning and doffing PPE. Used PPE was disposed of as clinical waste.
Cleaning schedules were comprehensive and had been updated in light of COVID-19 risks and frequent cleaning of high touch areas was undertaken by all staff, both day and night. The home had a large stock of cleaning detergents which had been checked for their efficacy in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The manager had undertaken an extensive infection control audit and actions had been implemented to improve prevention measures. No-one living at Scarborough House had tested positive for COVID-19.
Scarborough House is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 17 people. At the time of the inspection visit, 14 people were living in the home.
Care is provided at Scarborough House over two floors with most bedrooms being on the ground floor. There are various communal areas that people can use which include a lounge, dining room and conservatory.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they received good quality care from the staff at Scarborough House. All the people and relatives we spoke with said they would recommend the home to others.
People said they felt safe and the provider had ensured that systems and processes were in place to promote people’s safety. The staff were well trained and had the skills and knowledge to keep people safe and provide then with the care they needed.
People were treated as individuals and their decisions were respected. They and/or their relatives were fully involved in their care. People received care and support in line with their individual needs and preferences and they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.
There were enough staff available to spend time with people and to provide them with support when required. The staff were kind, caring and polite and treated people with respect whilst upholding their dignity. People received support with their hobbies and interests to enhance their wellbeing.
The home and equipment people used was clean. People had personalised their rooms to their choice and the provider had taken steps to make Scarborough House feel welcoming and homely. People had been involved in the running of the home and asked regularly for their opinions and ideas on how to improve the quality of care they received.
People were supported to maintain their health and the provider worked well with other health and social care services to ensure people received the support they needed, when this was required.
Good leadership was in place. The provider had instilled an open culture where staff and people living in the service, felt supported and able to raise concerns or voice opinions without anxiety. The provider had good governance systems in place to monitor and improve the care people received.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published May 2017).
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
There was a registered manager in the home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the home is run.
At the last inspection, the home was rated Good. At this inspection we found the home remained Good.
Why the home is rated Good…
People received support to take their medicines safely. Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm, risks were clearly identified and actions to reduce these implemented. There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.
Staff were competent to carry out their roles effectively and had received training that supported them to do so. People were supported to eat a choice of freshly prepared meals, and were supported with special diets. People were able to access and receive healthcare, with support, if needed.
People were able to make choices and were supported to make decisions. They had maximum choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the home complimented this practice.
Staff were kind and compassionate in the way they delivered support to people. They ensured that people were able to have visitors, and enabled people to maintain relationships with relatives and friends who did not live nearby. People were treated with dignity and respect.
People were supported to access a wide range of activities and hobbies that meant their leisure time was enjoyable. People and their relatives were confident that they could raise concerns if they needed to.
The registered manager ensured that the home was well run. Staff were committed to the welfare of people living in the home. They regularly engaged with people to seek their views about how they wanted the home to be run, and the activities on offer. The registered manager ensured they kept links within the local community and people were part of many regular events.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
This inspection took place on 16 and 17 October 2014 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector.
The service provides accommodation for up to 17 older people. At the time of our inspection 14 people were living in the home.
The registered manager had been in post since 2010. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us that they felt safe, that staff were considerate and thoughtful and that their needs were met. We saw that staff treated people respectfully and in a cheerful and patient manner. People found the staff and the manager approachable and could speak freely with them about any concerns they had.
Staff knew how to make sure that people were safe and protected from abuse. They knew what action to take if any issues arose.
Staff knew the people they cared for well and conversed with them about things of interest to them. Staff were aware of what might be concerning people at any one time, supported them through decision making and ensured people maintained as much independence as possible.
Staff had been trained and had the skills and knowledge to support people living in the home. Whilst there were no concerns at present, staff needed training in the Mental Capacity Act (2005) to ensure that if people’s capacity to make their own decisions changed, appropriate actions would be taken in accordance with legal requirements.
People were well looked after and if they had any concerns about their health, staff acted upon them promptly to ensure they received the necessary assistance from health professionals.
The home was well managed which helped ensure people’s safety and welfare. There was an open culture within the home. We observed a residents meeting and it was clear that people felt able to raise and debate issues without fear or censure. The manager ensured people understood what standard of care they could expect from the staff and were encouraged to report any concerns they had. Staff found the manager supportive and responsive to concerns or suggestions raised.
People told us that the staff team treated them with respect. Two people said that one staff member was not as good as the rest but generally they were treated well. One person said, 'I do not have to wait long if I need help.' A second person said, 'The majority of staff have been here a long time and know me well. They are so kind and polite.' Another person said, 'I have only been here for a short while and I am beginning to settle. I think it is because I have been made to feel welcome.'
People were assessed prior to their admission to the home. Care plans were completed and information was reviewed regularly.
The home was clean and free from odours. Staff had training and knowledge of infection control procedures. There was a sufficient supply of disposable protective clothing for staff to use.
The home had systems in place to monitor and audit the service provided. However, one area that the provider could improve upon, although no concerns were raised, was the method used when handling people's personal money. People were asked their opinion on the quality of the service and could complain if they had any concerns.
Records held in the home were up to date and stored securely.
Paperwork held about each person was appropriate, centred round people's needs and regularly updated. Risks had been identified and action taken to manage the risk.
People had their medication administered to them when it was required. It was given safely, recorded and stored correctly. Controlled medication was stored in an appropriate cabinet and records in the controlled drugs register were correct.
Staff told us and records were seen of the support offered to them that would ensure they were competent and capable of doing their job correctly and safely.
Although there were various ways of finding out how complaints would be dealt with the home had not received any complaints. People told us they felt they could raise any concerns with the manager
People spoke with were aware that they had a care plan and that they could read this if they wanted to. We were told how happy they were with the care and support offered.
Although we did not directly discuss safeguarding with people who live in this home we were told by two people how safe they feel living here.
The people we spoke with during our visit had nothing but praise for the staff team. They said, 'The girls are really good as they know us well and support us with what we need'. People we spoke with gave nothing but praise about the care, staff, environment, food and management. Although each one spoken with did not have any concerns or complaints they told us that they can easily speak to the manager as, 'She is lovely and will listen to what we have to say'.