Archived: Southmead Rest Home

Updated 6 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 8 and 9 August 2018 and was unannounced. On both days the inspection team was made up of one CQC Inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included information about incidents the provider had notified us of. We also asked the local authority who commission the service and the local safeguarding adults team for their views on the care and service given by the home.

During the inspection we met and spoke with all of the people living at the service and spoke with three visiting relatives. We spoke with the owner, registered manager, the chef and four members of care staff. Because some people living in the home were living with dementia and were not able to tell us about their experiences we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific method of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We observed how people were supported and to establish the quality of care people received we looked in depth at three people’s care, treatment and support records and all of the Medicine Administration Records (MARS). We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staffing rota’s, staff recruitment, supervision and training records, premises maintenance records, quality assurance records, staff and resident/relative meeting minutes and a range of the providers policies and procedures.

Updated 6 September 2018

Southmead Rest Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Southmead Rest Home is registered to accommodate up to 16 people. At the time of our inspection there were 12 older people living in the home. Accommodation for people is arranged over two floors with stair lifts to assist people to get to the upper floor. The home had a well maintained garden that provided a safe, accessible area for people to enjoy.

At the last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on going monitoring that demonstrated serious risk or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changes since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Is the service safe?

People were protected from potential abuse and avoidable harm by staff who were knowledgeable about recognising and reporting different signs of abuse. There were sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified staff available on each shift to ensure people were cared and supported safely. Risks to people were well managed and medicines were stored appropriately and managed effectively. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. There was a system in place to review and learn from incidents when things went wrong.

Is the service effective?

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People had access to a variety of health care professionals who gave care and support to people at the home. Staff received quality training which they found effective and useful. Staff were well supported with a clear system of supervision meetings and annual appraisals. People had access to nutritious, home cooked food that they enjoyed and were given choice in their menu selections.

Is the service caring?

People and relatives told us they found the staff to be kind, caring, friendly and patient. Staff spoke knowledgeably about people and showed they knew how people preferred to be given their care and support. People were treated with dignity and respect and supported to make their own choices about how they spent their day. People’s privacy was respected. Relatives told us they were always made to feel very welcome and enjoyed the calm, cheerful atmosphere at the home.

Is the service responsive?

People received person centred care from a team of staff who knew them and their health needs well. People’s needs were re-assessed when their health needs changed and relatives were kept informed and included. Activities formed a key part of people’s daily lives which improved their sense of wellbeing. There was a planned programme of varied and interesting activities for people to take part in if they wished. People knew how to complain if they needed to and there was a clear complaints process available.

Is the service well led?

There was an open, honest, friendly culture and people told us they had confidence in the management team and the staff. People and their relatives were consulted and involved in their care and support. There was a programme of quality checks and audits to ensure the quality of the service was maintained.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.