Archived: St Anne's Residential Care Home

Updated 20 February 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check whether the provider had met the requirements of the Warning Notice in relation to Regulation 12 Safe care and treatment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 on specific concerns we had about infection control practices.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about and from the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three members of the staff team the registered manager. We observed staff in the communal areas as they supported people and went about their designated tasks within the home.

Updated 20 February 2021

The inspection took place on 12 and 18 July 2018. The first day was unannounced.

At the last inspection in April 2017 we rated the key questions of Effective and Well Led as Requires Improvement. Following that inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to improve the environment. We also asked them to tell us what they would do and by when to improve the key questions, Effective and Well-Led to at least Good.

During this inspection in July 2018, we found the provider had invested in the environment. Changes to the flooring, bathrooms, bedrooms and communal areas had made the environment more hygienic and dementia friendly. Governance processes had also significantly improved. These included robust audits to check the service was providing quality care in all areas and there was greater involvement with the local community, for example with schools and local forums.

St Anne’s Residential Care Home (known as St Anne’s), 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.

St Anne’s provides care and accommodation for up to 23 people. On the day of the inspection 17 people were using the service. St Anne’s provides care for people who are elderly and frail, some people may have mental health and / or physical needs.

A registered manager was employed to manage the service locally. 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. The registered manager was supported by the provider and a manager to run St Anne’s.

People told us they felt safe using the service. There were risk assessments in place to help reduce any risks related to people’s care and support needs. Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse and were confident any allegations would be taken seriously and investigated to help ensure people were protected.

There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of people who used the service. The recruitment process of new staff was robust. People and staff were matched carefully and people could meet staff before they started receiving care from them.

People received support from staff who knew them well and had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. People and their relatives spoke highly of the staff and the support provided. Comments included, “The staff make the place safe in my opinion because they are always on hand” and, “No concerns, my husband will be safe and happy. I was asked lots of questions about how he likes to be cared for.”

Staff used their knowledge of people to help ensure their diverse needs were met. Staff were aware of people’s communication needs and styles and their likes and dislikes.

The registered manager and staff had attended training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff understood consent and when to follow the necessary legal processes to ensure people’s human rights were respected.

There was a positive culture within the service. The registered manager had clear values about how they wished the service to be provided and these values were shared by the whole staff team. Staff were clear they were working in people’s home. Staff told us care was personalised and based around people’s own routines and wishes. Social engagement opportunities and activities kept people stimulated.

Alternative methods of communication were used, family and advocates were utilised to help staff understand people’s needs when verbal communication was not easy for them. There were pictorial formats of menus and activities, for example, to help people make decisions. Easy read information was visible and there were pictorial instructions to help remind people how to use the bathroom, get dressed and retain their independence in other areas of their life.

There was a management structure in the service which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. A registered manager was in post who had overall responsibility for the service. They were supported by the provider, a manager and other senior staff who had designated responsibilities. People told us they knew who to speak to in the office and any changes or concerns were dealt with swiftly and efficiently, “I feel that I could talk to any member of staff and that my concern would be sorted out.”

Feedback received by the service and outcomes from audits were used to aid learning and drive improvement across the service. The manager and staff monitored the quality of the service by regularly by undertaking a range of regular audits and speaking with people to ensure they were happy with the service they received. People and their relatives told us the management team were approachable and included them in discussions about their care and the running of the service. Comments included, “[Provider’s names] are in charge and they are very approachable as is [manager’s name].”