Archived: Haughgate House Nursing Home

Updated 24 September 2016

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, 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 18 August 2016, was unannounced, and undertaken by an inspector and a specialist advisor who had knowledge and experience in nursing and dementia care.

Prior to the inspection the provider completed 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.

We reviewed information we had received about the service such as notifications. This is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We observed the interaction between people who used the service and the staff. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who may not be able to verbally communicate their experience of the service with us.

As part of the inspection we spoke with nine people who used the service and four relatives visiting the service. We also spoke with the provider’s nominated individual, the registered manager, the deputy manager and six members of staff from the care and housekeeping teams. In addition we received electronic feedback from three community professionals.

To help us assess how people’s care needs were being met we reviewed two people’s care records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, recruitment, training, and systems for monitoring the quality of the service.

Updated 24 September 2016

Haughgate House Nursing Home provides accommodation, care and support for up to 30 older people. People who live in the service have a range of needs which include; living with dementia, those who have a physical disability, and/or people who require palliative end of life care. There were 27 people living in the service when we carried out an unannounced inspection on 18 August 2016.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Our previous inspection of 13 May 2015 found that improvements were needed to ensure people were consistently supported by sufficient numbers of staff with the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. Further improvements were needed to provide people with a positive meal time experience and to ensure their wellbeing and social needs were met. There was also concern that people’s records did not consistently reflect changes to their needs and preferences. The provider wrote to us and told us how they were addressing these shortfalls. During this inspection we found that improvements had been made.

People received care and support that was personalised to them and met their individual needs and wishes. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and interacted with people in a caring, compassionate and professional manner. They were knowledgeable about people’s choices, views and preferences. The atmosphere in the service was friendly and welcoming.

People were safe and staff knew what actions to take to protect them from abuse. The provider had processes in place to identify and manage risk. Assessments had been carried out and personalised care records were in place which reflected individual needs and preferences.

Recruitment checks on staff were carried out with sufficient numbers employed who had the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs.

Appropriate arrangements were in place to ensure people’s medicines were obtained, stored and administered safely. People were encouraged to attend appointments with other health care professionals to maintain their health and well-being. Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely.

People and or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support arrangements. As a result people received care and support which was planned and delivered to meet their specific needs. Staff listened to people and acted on what they said.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). Support workers understood the need to obtain consent when providing care. Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, DoLs and associated Codes of Practice

There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to voice their concerns if they were unhappy with the care they received. People’s feedback was valued and acted on. There was visible leadership within the service and a clear management structure. The service had a quality assurance system with identified shortfalls addressed promptly which helped the service to continually improve.