Talbot View

Updated 3 March 2022

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 CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 24 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 3 March 2022

This comprehensive inspection took place on 15 and 17 May 2018. The first day was unannounced.

Talbot View is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Talbot View accommodates up to 59 people in four 14 or 15-bedded wings of purpose-built premises. There were 41 people living or staying there when we inspected. The two wings downstairs specialise in providing care to people living with dementia. The two wings upstairs are for people who require residential care due to frailty, illness and impairment in their old age. One of the upstairs wings was closed for refurbishment at the time of the inspection.

The service had a registered manager but they had left a few weeks previously and were due to apply to cancel their registration. The current manager had been in place since the registered manager left. They had applied to register with CQC and were awaiting a fit person interview. 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 service is run.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff knew and respected the people in their care. People’s privacy, dignity and independence was respected and promoted.

People were protected from abuse and neglect. Staff knew how to raise concerns about poor practice and suspected wrongdoing under the provider’s whistleblowing procedures.

People’s rights were protected because the staff acted in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including the deprivation of liberty safeguards. Where people were able to give consent to aspects of their care, staff sought this before providing assistance. If there were concerns that people would not be able to consent to their care, staff assessed their mental capacity. Where they were found to lack mental capacity, a decision was made and recorded regarding the care to be provided in the person’s best interests.

Risks to people were assessed and managed in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported to take risks to maintain their independence as far as possible, for example, if they were able to walk they were encouraged to do so.

Some people living with dementia were on occasion reluctant to accept support with care, which could cause them to become distressed when staff attempted to assist them. The service had taken advice from specialist healthcare professionals. This had reduced the frequency of behaviour that challenged others.

People’s physical, mental health and social needs were assessed holistically, and individualised care was planned and delivered to meet these. Staff had a good understanding of people’s care needs.

People were supported to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and to have plenty to drink. People’s weights were monitored and appropriate action taken if people were identified as being at risk of malnutrition, such as pursuing referral to a dietitian. Similarly, if people were observed to have difficulty swallowing, a swallowing assessment was sought with a speech and language therapist.

Group and individual activities were based on people’s interests and needs. They were facilitated by an activity coordinator and designated care staff.

People had access to healthcare services and were supported to manage their health.

At the end of their lives, people were supported to die in comfort and with dignity.

There were sufficient safely recruited, competent staff on duty to provide people’s care and support. Staff had access to the training they needed.

Staff were positive about their roles and told us they were well supported by the provider and manager.

Medicines were stored securely and managed safely.

Equipment and facilities throughout the home had been checked and serviced regularly.

The premises were clean, free from clutter and odours, creating a pleasant living space for all the people living at Talbot View.

Lessons were learned and improvements made when things went wrong. Concerns and complaints were seen as an opportunity to bring about improvement. The manager and their team exercised their duty of candour, keeping people and where appropriate their relatives informed about what had happened as the result of an accident or incident.

The service operated openly and transparently, working cooperatively with other organisations to ensure people were safe and received the care and support they needed. There was open communication with people who used the service, their relatives and staff about developments and changes at the service. The manager spent time speaking with people. There were also meetings for people who used the service, their relatives and staff.

Quality assurance systems were in place to learn from current performance and drive continuous improvement.