Updated 9 December 2023
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience on the first day of the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. On the second day of the inspection a pharmacist specialist visited the service.
Service and service type
The Heathers Residential Care Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was an appointed manager in post who was in the process of registering with the CQC to become the registered manager for the service.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We also checked the information we had about the service including notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about incidents or events that providers are required to inform us about. We asked the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams for any information they had about the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 10 people using the service about their experience of the care provided. We carried out observations of the support provided to people in communal areas. We also spoke with 5 relatives of people using the service and asked them for their experiences. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the provider and nominated individual, the manager, administration staff, senior care staff, the chef, care staff and the activities organiser. We reviewed a range of records, including 4 people’s care records, 7 people’s medicines records, staff records in relation to recruitment and training and other records relating to the management of the service, such as policies and procedures.