Background to this inspection
Updated
5 February 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.
As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices 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 17 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service two hours notice of the inspection.
Updated
5 February 2022
Cossham Gardens is registered to provide accommodation and personal care including nursing care for up to 21 people with complex physical needs. At the time of our inspection 20 people were using the service.
The inspection was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because we visited at the weekend and, we wanted to make sure people using the service, the registered manager and staff would be available to speak with us. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
At our last inspection in September 2016 we found a breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because the provider had not always ensured people’s care records contained clear instructions for staff to follow.
At this inspection we saw the provider had taken the action they had identified in their action plan. As a result improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach of this regulation.
At the last inspection, we rated the service as Good overall.
As a result of this inspection we found the service remained Good overall.
Why the service is rated good:
Overall, we found people received safe, individualised care that was usually provided by staff that knew them well.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
Staff understood their role and responsibilities to keep people safe from harm. Individual risks were assessed and plans put in place to keep people safe. There was enough staff to safely provide care and support to people. Checks were carried out on staff before they started work with people to assess their suitability to work with vulnerable people. Medicines were safely managed and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People received care and support from staff that understood their needs and knew them well. Staff received regular supervision and the training needed to meet people’s needs. The service had systems in place to ensure they complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff treated people with dignity and respect and were sensitive to their needs regarding equality, diversity and their human rights. The care and support people received was highly individualised. They were offered a range of group and individual activities.
There was a clear and effective management structure in place. The registered manager and other senior staff provided good leadership and management and were themselves well supported by the provider. The safety and quality of service people received was monitored on a regular basis and where shortfalls were identified they were acted upon.