Background to this inspection
Updated
11 February 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 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
11 February 2022
About the service
Station House is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care for up to 71 older people including people living with dementia. The home is divided in to two separate units, one for people living with dementia the other for people who need general nursing or residential care. The home also provides Intermediate Managed Care and Transitional Care. Intermediate Managed Care promotes rehabilitation and/or recovery following accident or illness. Transitional Care offers short term care and support during a period of health or social care crisis. At the time of the inspection 70 people were living or were placed at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s needs had been assessed, care plans developed, and risk assessments put in place to ensure people’s individual needs could be met and risks reduced or mitigated. Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated.
Regular staff had developed positive relationships with people and their relatives. They had a good understanding of how to meet each person’s individual needs and fully understood their routines and preferences. There was a high level of agency use that people told us affected some of the continuity of care. The registered manager used regular agency staff where possible. People’s privacy and dignity was consistently respected.
Safe recruitment procedures were in place and staff were supported in their role with appropriate training and supervision. The staff and management team worked closely with health and social care professionals.
Medication was managed safely by trained and competent staff. Medicines policies and procedures were available for staff along with best practice guidance. Emergency procedures and contingency plans were in place.
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.
People’s dietary needs were assessed and met. People spoke positively about the food choices available at the home.
People had access to a variety of activities within the home and spoke positively about these. People were encouraged to maintain contact with relatives and friends.
Staff had access to and understood the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE). An infection control policy and procedure were in place and staff had completed training in this area.
The registered provider had effective audit systems in place that identified areas for development and improvement
Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 September 2018) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. 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 inspect:
This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the last inspection.
Follow-up:
We will continue to monitor all intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk