Snowdrop Place Care Home

Updated 30 September 2023

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience on the first day, 1 inspector on the second day and a member of CQC's medicines optimisation team on the third day. 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

Snowdrop Place Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Snowdrop Place Care Home 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 CQC 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

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 17 May 2023 to help plan the inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and a professional who worked with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with a range of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, the provider’s e-care lead, chef, housekeeping and care staff. We spoke with 12 people using the service and 3 visiting relatives about their experience of the care provided. We completed observations of the care people received in communal areas and spoke with a visiting professional. We looked at a range of records related to people’s care including 10 people’s medicines records, information on accident and incidents, complaints and compliments and 3 staff recruitment records. Following the onsite inspection activity, we remotely reviewed 4 people’s care records, staff training records and various audits in place to oversee and monitor the running of the service. We also received feedback from 18 employees, 3 professionals and contacted 10 relatives by telephone.

Updated 30 September 2023

About the service

Snowdrop Place Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 68 people. The service provides support to older people and those who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service. Snowdrop Place Care Home accommodates people in a purpose-built building. People are accommodated across two floors and the first floor specialised in providing care to people living with dementia. People had access to a range of communal areas including dining, cinema, salon, and lounge areas with a lift to enable people to move between floors.

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

Some information about people’s personal risk and risk management plans were inconsistent or incomplete. Information in respect of people’s medicines were not always detailed to ensure staff had access to all required information to support consistent administration of all people’s medicines. We received feedback from people, relatives, and staff that they felt staffing levels needed to be improved. Staff knew how to raise concerns about abuse and neglect to keep people safe, and there was a clear safeguarding process in place to record, report and respond to information of concern.

The environment did not always support people’s orientation, accessibility and independence. Most people told us they found food options adequate, but quality and variety did not always meet people’s preferences or expectations. 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 mostly supported this practice.

We received mostly positive feedback that people were provided with kind, caring and compassionate support. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff promoted people’s independence where possible.

People’s care records were person-centred and captured their personal history, things that were important to them and their preferences. There were dedicated activities staff and people were given opportunities to join in with a range of activity sessions and events.

Quality assurance and governance systems in place were not always effective or robust. Although there was a range of auditing systems in place, they did not identify the concerns we found at this inspection. We identified several examples where people’s care records were not always consistent, accurate or up to date to reflect the care they required.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 16 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to good governance and clear, up to date and accurate records at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

We have recommended the provider reviews and implements all relevant best practice guidance in respect of care home environments to promote all people’s independence.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.