Corinthian House

Updated 8 September 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 conducted by 1 inspector and a specialist professional adviser on the first day, and 2 inspectors on the second day. An Expert by Experience supported the inspection on the first day. 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

Corinthian House 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. Corinthian House 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 the Care Quality Commission 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 not a registered manager in post. There was a home manager, who had not yet registered with the Care Quality Commission, and they were absent during the inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day.

Inspection activity started on 13 July 2023 and ended on 4 August 2023. We visited the location on 13 and 27 July 2023.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. We requested feedback from other stakeholders. These included the local authority safeguarding team, commissioning teams, infection and prevention control team and Healthwatch Leeds. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 11 people using the service and 6 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed care in the communal areas to help us understand the experience of people. We gathered information from 10 members of staff including the deputy home manager, regional director, head of quality, nurses, care staff and ancillary staff.

We reviewed a range of records, both on site and remotely. This included 6 people's care plans, risk assessments and associated information. We also reviewed multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training, supervision and appraisals. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 8 September 2023

About the service

Corinthian House is a care home that can accommodate up to 70 people who require support with nursing or personal care needs, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 33 people were living in the home.

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

The provider had worked to address the concerns raised at the last inspection and there were clear signs of improvement, although quality assurance systems needed to be more thoroughly embedded. Recording of people’s daily care needed to be more consistent and detailed.

We received mixed information about staffing levels. Some people, relatives and staff raised some concerns about how many staff were available on each floor. At the last inspection, we made a recommendation for the provider to review their staffing levels and staff deployment. We requested the provider review this more thoroughly as a matter of priority, to ensure people’s care needs were being appropriately met in a timely way.

People and relatives shared positive feedback overall about the quality of care in the home.

Medicines were managed safely. Individual risks to people were effectively assessed and monitored. More robust processes were in place to monitor people’s risk of choking and weight loss. Risks to people’s skin integrity was being managed in line with their care needs. Recruitment procedures were safely followed. Infection prevention and control measures were thoroughly implemented.

Staff told us there had been some improvement in the way they were supported to carry out their roles. The provider was improving the support available for nurses.

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.

The home had a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and staff were professional, kind and caring.

Some people and relatives said there were not always opportunities for regular baths or showers. There were regular planned activities being offered to people. We noted many people remained in bed or in their own rooms and it was not clear whether this was based on individual choice or assessed need. Where they did so, there were fewer opportunities for good quality and consistent interaction. We recommended the provider reviews each person’s abilities and choices and continuously keeps this under review.

There was a manager in post who was not registered with the Care Quality Commission. They were absent at the time of the inspection. The deputy manager was in charge with support from the senior management team. People, relatives and staff reported recent improvements in relation to the running of the home.

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 requires improvement (published 12 December 2022).

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 9 and 12, although remained in breach of regulation 17.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.