Hexham Carntyne Residential Care Home

Updated 10 September 2021

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 team consisted of one inspector and one 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

Hexham Carntyne Residential 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.

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 spoke with the local authority safeguarding and commissioning teams, the local infection control lead for care homes and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 11 people and five relatives. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager and deputy manager. We also met with the provider and their nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We spoke with a visiting community matron and contacted three other health care professionals.

We reviewed five care plans, 10 medicine administration records, one staff file and a variety of records relating to the quality of the service.

After the inspection

We requested further information and clarification from the registered manager.

Updated 10 September 2021

About the service

Hexham Carntyne Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 19 people, including older people and people who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 19 people were living at the service in adapted accommodation, including two communal lounges and a lift to upper floor bedrooms.

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

The registered manager and staff team, with support from the provider, had made improvements at the home.

Infection control procedures had improved. The provider had strengthened processes and staff were following guidance to protect people. There continued to be no outbreaks of COVID-19.

Medicines were administered to people in a safe and timely manner and updates to medicine records continued to be reviewed to make sure they were up to date.

Care plans were in place and were continuing to be fully reviewed and updated onto new paperwork. Staff knew people well and were able to support them in the way they preferred. 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.

People’s dietary needs were met, and a good range of home cooked food and refreshments were available.

Staff training had been updated to ensure staff were skilled to deal effectively with people’s care needs.

Quality monitoring systems had been updated. Staff said the management team had made many improvements and morale had improved.

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 20 May 2021) and there were two breaches of regulation. We had also placed conditions on the providers registration for the service. The provider completed an action plan after the last comprehensive inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.

Why we inspected

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, Effective 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 improved to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. We have found evidence that the provider has made improvements and addressed the previous breaches of regulations.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hexham Carntyne Residential Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.

Follow up

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