St Mary's Convent

Updated 5 December 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by 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.

Service and service type

St Mary's Convent 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including; the registered manager, a senior carer, two care workers, and the cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 5 December 2019

About the service

St Mary's Convent is a residential care home which provides older people with personal care. The home can accommodate up to 18 people. On the day of our inspection visit, 18 people were using the service.

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

People and their relatives told us the care was safe and they were happy at St Mary's Convent. Medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff on duty and staff were recruited safely. Many staff had worked at the service for several years. People were protected from abuse by staff who understood how to identify and report any concerns. People were protected from harm as risks had been assessed and plans put in place to mitigate these.

Senior staff carried out detailed assessments of need to ensure the home could effectively support any new admissions. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and staff were trained to support people who had different dietary needs. Staff told us they were well trained and they were well supported and supervised by the management team. The service worked well with community healthcare partners to ensure people received healthcare support where needed.

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.

Interactions between people and the staff team were very positive and relatives also said they were made very welcome at the home. We spoke with relatives visiting their loved one close to the end of their life, they told us they were very supported and thankful to the staff team. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs and preferences. People were supported to engage in activities to reduce their risk of social isolation. People were supported to express their spirituality, with whatever religion they chose to follow. The home held regular Catholic mass and services in their peaceful chapel which was open to the community. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint, although nobody we spoke with had any.

There was a clear management structure and staff were supported by the registered manager. People's feedback was sought regularly and acted upon. We received positive feedback about how the service was managed. Quality assurance systems were completed.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 05 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for St Mary's Convent 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.