Stuart House

Updated 11 March 2022

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.

We received information of concern that not all staff had received the legal requirement for vaccinations whilst working in care homes. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 24 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service short notice of the inspection to ensure a manager was available.

Updated 11 March 2022

About the service:

Stuart House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 21 people. When we visited, 19 people lived there, however one person was in hospital.

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

People were supported by staff that were caring and treated them with dignity and respect. Staff understood the needs of the people they supported. Through conversation, staff told us how they aimed to achieve positive outcomes for people.

Risks of abuse to people were minimised. The service had appropriate safeguarding systems and processes. Assessments of people’s needs identified known risks and risk management guidance was produced for staff which they understood. The service did not use a dependency tool to aid them in ensuring enough staff were deployed. We received mixed feedback from staff, people, and relatives about the number of staff on duty at times. We have made a recommendation in relation to this.

There were effective systems that ensured the service was safe. Health and safety checks, together with effective checks of the environment were carried out by dedicated staff. Guidance to aid staff and the emergency services in the event of an evacuation was completed and current.

People received their medicines as prescribed and medicines were stored securely, however we identified some areas that required attention. We found that systems to monitor stock balances and protocols for ‘when required’ medicines needed improving. We have made a recommendation around the management of medicines.

People, their relatives and a healthcare professional gave us positive feedback about the quality of care people received. The feedback on the leadership of the service and the registered manager was positive. However, we found quality monitoring systems had not been fully effective in identifying the improvements required in relation to medicines management or the evolving risk in relation to staffing numbers. We have made a recommendation about this.

People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff understood their role and were confident when performing it through a continual training package. Staff at the service worked together with a range of healthcare professionals to achieve positive outcomes for people and followed professional advice to achieve this.

There were systems in place that ensured people who were deprived of their liberty were done so with the appropriate legal authority. Staff understood and acted in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated guidance. People within the service were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts.

People’s care plans were personalised and aided staff in supporting people in a person-centred way. People’s communication needs were recorded, and care was planned to meet people’s needs. There were activities in place and service had recently employed new activity staff to increase provision. There were escalation plans in place for end of life care and we discussed the further development of end of life care planning with the registered manager. People's concerns and complaints were listened and responded to. Accidents, incidents and complaints were reviewed to learn and improve the service.

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (published February 2017)

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will inspect in line with our inspection programme or sooner if required.

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