Archived: Greenbanks Care Home

Updated 28 March 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 5 and 6 February 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one 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. The expert-by-experience for this inspection had experience in care for older people.

The registered manager had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks them to give some key information about the service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at other information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the service must inform us about.

During the inspection we observed the support that people received in the communal lounge and dining area of the service. We spoke with nine people using the service and two relatives to give their feedback on the service they received. As part of the inspection we spoke with the provider, the registered manager, the deputy manager and two care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care plans and records including care planning documentation, risk assessments, nutrition and hydration information and medicine records. We looked at documentation that related to staff management and staff recruitment including three staff files. We also looked at records concerning the monitoring, safety and quality of the service.

The service had been registered with us since 26 January 2017. This was the first inspection carried out on the service to check that it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Updated 28 March 2018

We inspected this service on the 5 and 6 February 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

Greenbanks Care Home 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. Greenbanks Care Home provides personal care and accommodation to a maximum of 15 older people, some of whom were living with dementia. There were 15 people living there at the time of our inspection.

The service was taken over by a new provider in January 2017. Since this time extensive work has been undertaken to make improvements to the service such as, the replacement of the fire alarm system, replacement of all carpets, redecoration of people’s bedrooms and ensuite facilities. Greenbanks Care Home has two lounges for people to use and has a passenger lift for access to the first floor.

The service had a registered manager in post who had worked with the new provider for a number of years. 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 a deputy manager.

People felt safe and were protected from the potential risk of harm and abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding people and followed the provider’s policy and procedure. Potential risks to people had been assessed and steps were taken to reduce any risks. The premises were maintained and equipment had been regularly serviced to ensure it was in good working order.

There was enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff recruitment procedures were followed to ensure staff were safe to work with people who needed care and support. Staff were trained to meet people’s needs including any specialist needs. Staff were given feedback, support and guidance from the management team, through regular supervision meetings.

People were supported to maintain their nutrition and hydration with support from health care professionals if necessary. A menu was in place which offered a choice of two hot meals; however, other food options were available. People’s feedback and suggestions regarding the meals had been listened to and action taken. People were supported to remain as healthy as possible and attend appointments with health care professionals when required. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines safely, from trained staff. Accidents and incidents were monitored effectively.

People’s needs and choices were assessed when they started using the service. People received care that was personalised to their needs. People were offered the opportunity to take part activities which they enjoyed. People were encouraged to raise concerns or complaints and were asked for feedback about the service they received. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People were treated with dignity and respect, by staff that were kind and caring. Staff knew people’s likes, dislikes and personal histories; this information was readily available within the persons’ care plan. People were supported to maintain relationships with people that mattered to them.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided to people. They were a range of checks and audits carried out to ensure the safety and quality of the service that was provided to people. The registered manager understood their responsibility of registration with us and notified us of important events that occurred at the service; this meant we could check appropriate action had been taken.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.