Archived: St Peter's House

Updated 11 November 2017

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 was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 26 and 27 September 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of 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.

Before the inspection, we requested that the provider complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This was received from the provider.

We also reviewed information that we held about the service. Providers are required to notify the Care Quality Commission about events and incidents that occur including unexpected deaths, injuries to people receiving care and safeguarding matters. Before the inspection we reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. We also contacted commissioners (who fund the care for some people) of the service and asked them for their views.

We looked at the care records of three people in detail to check they were receiving their care as planned. We also looked at records including four staff recruitment files, training records, meeting minutes, medication records and quality assurance records. We spoke with seven people who live at the home, nine members of care staff, the chef, the assistant chef, a housekeeper, the deputy manager and the registered manager. We also spoke with relatives of four people currently living at the home and two healthcare professionals

Updated 11 November 2017

St Peters House provides accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 66 older people. There were 53 people living in the home on the day of our inspection. This inspection took place on 26 and 27 September 2017 and was unannounced on the first day.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection on 10 June 2015 we rated the service ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ in caring. We found at this inspection that the people continued to receive excellent care that was personalised to them, taking account of their individual needs and wishes. We have rated the service ‘Outstanding’ in caring and responsive and therefore the rating overall is also ‘Outstanding’.

The service provided exceptional, compassionate care to people. Staff treated people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and interactions were relaxed. People who used the service and their relatives spoke with great fondness and affection about the staff. Staff were committed to the people who lived at the home and ensuring that their needs were met in an extremely caring manner. We saw examples of staff going above and beyond to meet people’s needs.

People's preferences, likes and dislikes had been taken into consideration and support was provided in accordance with people's wishes. People's rights to privacy, dignity and independence were taken into account by staff in the way they cared for them.

Ensuring people received care personalised to meet their needs which enhanced their quality of life was fundamental to the running of the service. The service provided outstanding end of life care. Effective systems and processes were in place to ensure people experienced a comfortable, dignified death in line with their wishes.

A great strength of the service was people had the opportunity to take part in a number of social events and activities based on their preferences. Activities were innovative and involved all areas of the staff team including the catering team. There were strong links to the local community, people had the opportunity to meet and engage with people of varying ages such as college students and nursery school children.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate pre-employment checks had been made including evidence of identity and satisfactory written references. Appropriate checks were also undertaken to ensure new staff were safe to work within the care environment.

The home had sufficient staff to meet the needs of the people living there. Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. The registered manager and deputy manager knew how to report any safeguarding concerns to the appropriate local authority if necessary.

People were cared for by staff who received regular training and who were supported through regular opportunities to meet with their line manager to discuss their work and receive feedback. Staff received training in a number of areas relevant to their job role and their development.

People felt supported by the registered manager and deputy manager. Staff understood the values of the service and the management team led by example. Management processes and audits were in place and used effectively to monitor and improve the service. People and their relatives were involved in their care assessments and care plan reviews. People and staff told us the home was well run and that the registered manager was approachable. There were systems in place for people to be involved and feedback on the experiences of the service.