Sowerby House

Ratings

• Overall

  Requires improvement

• Safe

  Requires improvement

• Effective

  Requires improvement

• Caring

  Requires improvement

• Responsive

  Requires improvement

• Well-led

  Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Sowerby House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 51 people. At the time of our inspection there were 33 people using the service. We assessed 19 quality statements within 5 key questions. The inspection included site visits on 29 and 30 April 2024. We continued to review evidence off-site after these dates. The assessment was completed in response to concerns we had received about the service. The service was last inspected in July 2022, where we identified breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection the provider remained in breach of regulations. We identified 6 breaches relating to the identification and management of risk, medicines, infection, prevention and control, consent to care and treatment, person-centred care and governance. People were not involved in developing the service. There was no evidence of continuous learning or systematic approach to improvement. Incidents were not always reviewed to identify themes, patterns or for lessons that could be learned. People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff did not always follow the Mental Capacity Act key principles when making best interest decisions. Medicines were not always managed safely. The provider did not give people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well maintained environment that met their sensory and physical needs. Some areas of the home were visibly dirty. There was a lack of effective monitoring in place and this had resulted in poor outcomes for people using the service. In instances where CQC have decided to take enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded. We have also asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found.

People's experience of this service

Feedback from people and their relatives was mixed in terms of the consistency. Comments included, “Safe? I never see any of them”, and “I couldn’t manage at home and my wife was struggling as I’d had a stroke so I came here. The girls are really nice and help me”. The people and relatives we spoke with raised concerns with the cleanliness of the home. One person told us, “It’s dropping to bits. I can’t remember when this room was cleaned last. I keep asking if someone can just vacuum round but I’m still waiting”. Most people we spoke with gave us positive feedback about the care they received. People told us staff were kind.