The Coombe House

Updated 24 March 2021

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.

As part of CQC's response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 12 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 24 March 2021

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 24 and 30 April 2018.

The Coombe House is a care home (without nursing) which is registered to provide a service for up to 24 people who require assistance with personal care. The service currently offers a service to 22 people whose needs are related to old age. The service offers 20 single occupancy rooms and two double bedrooms across the two storey main house and the attached annexes.

At the last inspection, on 18 and 23 December 2015, the service was rated as good in all domains. This meant that the service was rated as overall good. At this inspection we found the service had improved to outstanding in two domains and therefore had improved to an overall rating of outstanding.

Why the service is rated outstanding.

The service was exceptionally responsive and strove to meet people’s needs, wishes and lifestyle choices. It was flexible and readily adapted to meet people’s changing, diverse and complex needs. It was extraordinarily person centred and people were seen and responded to as individuals. Activity programmes were creative and designed to meet people’s preferences and choices. Menus were created to offer diverse foods that were healthy. Care planning was individualised and regularly reviewed ensuring people’s needs were met continuously.

The registered manager was extremely experienced, respected and highly thought of by staff, families and other professionals. She and the management team ensured the service was exceptionally well-led. The registered manager and the staff team were committed to ensuring they offered people the very best care possible and that people were as involved as possible in running the service. The quality of care the service provided was constantly assessed, reviewed and improved by the provider and registered manager.

People were protected from all forms of abuse by a trained and knowledgeable staff team. Staff were trained in safeguarding people and knew what action to take if they identified any concerns. The service continued to identify individual and environmental risks. Action was taken to reduce these risks, and a comprehensive account was provided of what action to take should the risk occur.

People continued to be supported by good staffing ratios, which were reviewed and increased as needed. The management supported staff and assisted people on a daily basis. Staff were able to meet people’s specific needs safely. Robust recruitment systems were implemented to ensure as far as possible, that staff were safe and suitable to work. People were supported to take their medicines correctly by trained and competent staff. Where people were able to self medicate, they were appropriately assessed and assisted to remain independent.

A well-trained staff team remained able to offer people effective care. They met people’s diverse needs. Care plans were kept up to date ensuring people’s current and changing health and emotional well-being needs were met. The service worked very closely with health and other professionals to ensure they offered individuals the best care in the most effective manner.

People continued to be supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The caring, committed and enthusiastic staff team continued to meet people’s needs with compassion, kindness and respect. They ensured they promoted people’s privacy and dignity and communicated with them effectively. Measures were taken to ensure records were maintained confidentially.