Strathmore Nursing Home

Updated 2 August 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 carried out by an inspector, a medicines inspector 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

Strathmore Nursing 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. Strathmore Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

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 CQC 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 sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, the nominated individual, and 4 support staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We spoke with 7 people receiving support and 6 relatives. We reviewed 3 people's care records and spoke to 2 visiting health professionals.

We reviewed records and audits relating to the management of the service. We asked the registered manager to send us documents before and after the on-site inspection. These were provided in a timely manner and this evidence was included as part of our inspection.

Updated 2 August 2023

About the service

Strathmore Nursing Home is a care home providing personal care to older people and people living with dementia. The service accommodates 32 people in one adapted building, over 3 floors. At the time of the inspection 28 people were using the service.

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

Systems for managing medicines were not always safe. Systems in place to monitor the running of the service were not always followed in a timely manner. Environmental risks were not always identified and mitigated effectively.

People’s personal information was not always stored securely. Systems for ensuring staff competencies were not always in place. We made recommendations about management of staff and protecting people’s personal information.

Staff were trained to recognise potential risks and signs of abuse. Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed and reviewed by managers. Staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately when supporting people.

The provider had procedures in place to receive feedback on how to improve support. Lessons were learned when concerns were raised, and these outcomes were communicated to staff. Staff worked well in partnership with other agencies to deliver effective support.

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.

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 good (published 7 January 2020).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the management of medicines and staff competencies. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe 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 changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of the full report. The provider has taken action to mitigate the risks identified.

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

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to managing medicines safely, environmental risk management, and the good governance of the service at this inspection.

We have made recommendations about improvements in monitoring of staff and the storage of personal data.

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.