Prinsted Care Home

Updated 17 February 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 29 January 2021 and was announced.

Updated 17 February 2021

About the service

Prinsted Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 44 older people with various support needs, including physical and sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection, 34 people were in residence. The home consists of one adapted building with a modern wing. There are a range of communal areas, including a garden for people to enjoy.

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

Without exception, everyone we spoke with talked of the high quality care they received at Prinsted Care Home. People sang the praises of staff, saying how caring and loving they were. Everyone we spoke with said they would recommend the home to others and staff said they would wish for their own family members to move to the home if they required care. One staff member told us, “I love it. The home is lovely, it is not your average home”. In a relative survey response we read, ‘The dedication, kindness and care the staff give to all of the residents is second to none’.

Care was highly personalised to meet people's needs. Strong relationships were formed between staff and people due to the continuity of staffing and the very caring approach of staff members. Care plans provided detailed information and guidance for staff on people's care and support needs, likes and dislikes, and exactly how they wished to receive personal care. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions relating to their care and were treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

Staff knew people extremely well and tailored their support accordingly. Staff enjoyed spending time with people and engaging in activities with them. One person told us, “They make a point of stopping to chat”. The management actively encouraged this from staff in all roles. Many people spoke to us of a family feel and of a close-knit community. One staff member said, “You grow such a bond with them and you love them like your own”.

Staff had excellent knowledge of people and there was a focus on the individual and on tailoring care and providing activities which were meaningful to them. The registered manager told us her vision was, “Enabling people to live their lives as they always have, making them believe it is possible and giving the encouragement and confidence to do that”. We learned of people who had been on holidays, days out, continued with hobbies and social contacts, or been supported to share their learning and interests with others at the home.

People's communication needs were identified and planned for. People expressed confidence that they could raise any issues or concerns with any member of staff or the management team and that these would be addressed.

Staff were skilled in supporting people at the end of their lives. The took time to understand the person’s wishes and to plan alongside other healthcare professionals to ensure the person’s comfort. Where people expressed specific wishes, staff worked to facilitate these. Relatives spoke highly of the care their loved ones had received.

People received high quality care that improved their wellbeing. They had confidence in the staff team and their training and experience. Professionals praised the service, the willingness of staff to accept new ideas and the strong communication with them and within the staff team. A relative commented,’ It becomes obvious that staff are carefully chosen to work at Prinsted to maintain this happy, caring and safe environment’.

Staff felt supported and knew their opinions mattered. They had regular supervisions and an annual appraisal. People were very enthusiastic about the food and were able to make suggestions for the menu. Snacks and drinks were readily available throughout the day. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals and support, including an in-house physiotherapy service. Premises were suitable and comfortable and met people's needs.

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.

Care staff were well informed about risks to people's health or wellbeing and knew how to deliver their care safely. Staffing levels met people's needs. Medicines were managed safely. The home was clean, and staff had been trained in infection prevention and control. Lessons were learned if things went wrong.

There was a homely welcoming atmosphere at the service and we observed very positive and caring relationships between people and staff. One relative commented, ‘The staff are always so cheerful and welcoming'.

There was strong and effective leadership. The service was well organised and had a range of systems in place to ensure its smooth operation and to support good communication. Feedback from health and social care professionals who worked closely with the service consistently indicated that staff went the extra mile to deliver person centred care. A relative told us, “I cannot fault it”.

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 17 Feb 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.