Upton Mill Care Home

Updated 28 January 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 Care Act 2014.

Due to the service being affected by Covid -19 and being in an outbreak due to positive case within the staffing team only, we limited our movement in the home. We used technology such as electronic file sharing and phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff. One inspector visited the home. During the inspection visit we looked at evidence which could not be submitted electronically and spent time observing the environment, staff practices and interactions with people in a safe way and for the shortest amount of time feasible.

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

This inspection was carried out by two 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

Upton Mill Care Home 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. This included notifications about important events at the service and feedback shared directly with CQC. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

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 safely observed staff interacting with people and looked at the premises. We spoke with twelve members of staff including the registered manager, the acting home manager, two team leader, the head of housekeeping, the head chef, an activities coordinator, the clinical lead, a senior care assistant, the home trainer and two care assistants. We spoke to four people who use the service. We also spoke to four people’s relatives. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and safety checks were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at the evidence submitted electronically by the provider. We spoke with one professional who regularly visit the service.

Updated 28 January 2022

About the service

Upton Mill Care Home is a 'care home' registered to provide care for up to 64 older people and people living with dementia in a purpose-built building in the town of Tetbury. At the time of our inspection 34 people lived at the home.

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

People, their relatives and staff consistently praised the leadership in the home and the quality of care people received.

The personalised care people received was exceptional and the service was outstandingly responsive to the needs of people and particularly to the changing needs of people living with dementia. Activities available to people were highly personalised and the home went out of their way to ensure people had a stimulating and enjoyable engagement and built solid links with the local community.

People received care and support from a consistent staffing team. Staff spoke positively about the support they received and how this promoted person centred care.

Staff understood people's needs and how to assist them to protect them from avoidable harm. Care plans and risk assessments were in place, which provided staff with guidance on how to meet people's needs and manage identified risks.

People were supported to receive their medicines safely and as prescribed.

People were supported by staff who had been trained and supported to meet their needs. People and their relatives spoke positively about the caring nature of staff.

The service had infection control processes and systems in place to reduce the risk of people contracting COVID-19.

We received positive comments from people using the service at Upton Mill Care Home and their relatives such as; “If I had a friend who wanted a home I would say it would be hard to find a better home, I absolutely love all the staff” and “Absolutely would recommend in fact have to a friend of my sister’s father. I have no hesitation recommending. They are great, so pleased [person] has had the time with them. I am completely satisfied.”

People were supported to have 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 were consulted about meal preferences and enjoyed a varied diet. People's health care needs were met through on-going guidance and liaison with healthcare professionals.

There was a robust quality assurance system in place to ensure people received the best possible service. The registered manager worked closely with partner agencies and services to promote best practice within the service and make a positive impact to people's lives. The registered manager had developed a strong leadership team within the service to ensure the high standards implemented were sustained while they undertook responsibilities in another home.

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

This service was registered with us on 18/08/2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10th December 2021 and 14th December 2021.

This was a planned inspection based on the service being newly registered.

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.

You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link Upton Mill Care Home 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. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.