Churchill House

Updated 1 December 2022

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

The inspection was completed by 2 inspectors 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

Churchill House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Churchill House is a care home without 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who use the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, team leader, care workers, housekeeper, activities coordinator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records in relation to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 1 December 2022

About the service

Churchill House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 24 people in 1 adapted building. The service provides support to younger and older people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people using the service.

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

Safety checks of the premises and equipment were not always routinely carried out.

We have made a recommendation in relation to reviewing the maintenance / environmental safety check programme.

People received care and support, however, staff did not always have time or availability to offer any meaningful engagement.

We have made a recommendation in relation to systems to support appropriate staffing levels.

Medicine were safely ordered, stored and administered and regularly reviewed by healthcare professionals.

People had support from safely recruited staff. Staff received training in safeguarding and understood their role and responsibilities to protect people from abuse.

Quality monitoring systems were in place which helped to check various areas of the home. Any actions identified were carried out to make sure the service was continually improving.

Care plans included risk assessments for known risks and staff followed support plans to help keep people safe. Care plans were up to date and were regularly reviewed. People were happy with the care they received, they felt safe and well looked after.

Staff had positive links with healthcare professionals which promoted people's wellbeing. Records confirmed the manager worked in partnership with stakeholders.

We found the manager to be open and responsive to feedback. Visiting healthcare professionals told us that the management team and staff worked well with them.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 1 April 2020) and there was a breach 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 the provider had evidenced some improvements in line with their action plan and was no longer in breach of regulation, however further improvements were required.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider reviewed and updated their practice for ‘as and when’ required medicines. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on the recommendation and made the improvements to documentation relating to ‘as and when’ required medicines.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall 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 that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Follow up

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