Background to this inspection
Updated
28 April 2023
Inspection team
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
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Waterfield Supported Homes Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and we looked at both during this inspection.
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 a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service, including notifications of any serious events the provider is required by law to tell us about. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
Inspection activity started on 27 February and ended on 10 March 2023. We visited the service location on 27 February 2023.
We spoke with 4 people who used the service, the registered manager and 2 support workers. We looked at records of care, risk management and support for 3 people who used the service and records of medicines management for 7 people. We looked at records of recruitment for 3 staff. We reviewed information relating to the management of the service such as safety checks, policies, staff training, audits and staff meetings.
Updated
28 April 2023
About the service
Waterfield Supported Homes Limited is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 7 people. The service provides support to older people, people living with dementia and people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were 7 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff understood how to keep people safe and had suitable training in infection control. However, there were not sufficient systems to ensure the cleanliness of the premises and the building was visibly dirty in places. After our visit the provider engaged a new cleaning contractor to address this.
There were enough staff to safely meet people’s needs. The provider operated suitable pre-employment checks on staff.
People told us they were treated with respect and listened to by staff. People were involved in making day to day choices about how they spent their time, including access to in house activities. People felt safe living in the service and were able to approach managers if they had any concerns.
The provider ensured that key safety checks were carried out around the service and had risk management plans in place to mitigate risks to people’s wellbeing. The provider had implemented a new recording system to ensure that people’s needs were suitably assessed and monitored, however systems of audit did not always address issues with the cleanliness of premises.
The service engaged people in the running of the service and held regular residents meetings. People told us they were comfortable approaching managers if they had any concerns. Staff spoke of feeling well supported by staff and had received key training and supervision.
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. There were suitable processes to ensure that restrictions on people’s liberty were applied legally.
People received their medicines safely by staff who had the right skills to do so; we have made a recommendation about how the provider maintains records of medicines administration.
For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
The last rating for this service was good (published 7 June 2018).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.
Enforcement and recommendations.
We have found breaches in relation to the cleanliness of premises. We have made a recommendation about how the provider records people’s medicines.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of the full version of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.