Park House

Updated 30 December 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

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

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors, a medicines inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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

Park House 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 a manager 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 information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, registered manager and provider representatives.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at policies and protocols.

Updated 30 December 2020

About the service

Park House is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care to 39 people living with dementia and age-related care conditions at the time of the inspection. The service is registered to support up to 111 people. Care is provided across two separate units, each of which has separate adapted facilities.

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

Feedback we received from staff, people and relatives was very positive in regard to improvements that had been made in the areas we inspected and to the management of the home. The provider and registered manager was aware the improvements needed to be sustained and had made significant progress.

Improvements had been made to how medicines were managed, people’s needs were monitored, and how the service was managed.

We observed care being delivered in the home and saw this was done with care and in a patient manner. People were comfortable in the presence of staff and had developed positive relationships with care staff. One person told us, “They do ask me if I’m happy and they ask what they can do for me. I can talk to the staff; they do listen to me.” Relatives told us staff were kind and treated their relatives with dignity and respect. We were told, “They [the staff] give me peace of mind. They tell me nice stories about [person].”

Care plans and risk assessments reflected the needs of people. Medicines were managed safely and those staff who administered medication had had their competencies regularly checked. Staff attended meetings and said they felt well supported.

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 policies and systems in the service now support this practice as consent was sought and recorded in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Accidents and incidents were managed appropriately, and referrals were made to other professionals in a timely way. The registered manager notified CQC of significant incidents when it was appropriate. Additionally, the provider and management team had a new auditing system in place that helped drive improvement and ensure quality service for people living in 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 26 March 2020) 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. The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last four consecutive inspections.

This service has been in Special Measures since16 April 2019. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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 the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained the same. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Park House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.