Magnolia House

Updated 15 November 2022

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

One inspector and two Experts by Experience carried out this 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.

Service and service type

Magnolia House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Magnolia House is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. We inspected the care home on 20 and 21 October 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR) from May 2022. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service, to learn about their experiences of the service provided to them. 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 could not talk with us. We also spoke with 10 people's relatives.

We spoke with 16 members of staff. This included seven care staff, two housekeeping staff, an activity co-ordinator, the chef, a nurse, the clinical lead, deputy manager, registered manager and a representative of the provider. We also spoke with three healthcare professionals who visited the service.

We inspected the care records of six people. We inspected three staff recruitment files and a selection of medicine and maintenance records. We reviewed records pertaining to the management and quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 15 November 2022

About the service

Magnolia House is a residential care home providing accommodation to persons who require nursing or personal care, to up to 67 people. The service provides support to older people; some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 48 people using the service. People are accommodated in one adapted building.

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

The registered manager and provider had implemented new systems following our last inspection to ensure people received care that reflected their needs and preferences.

Effective action had been taken in relation to infection control, which protected people from the risk of infection, including COVID-19. The registered manager sought the guidance of professionals and acted on their recommendations.

People and their relatives spoke positively of Magnolia House and the registered manager. They told us that the service was improving.

Staff told us they had the training, support and skills they required to meet people’s needs. Staff had differing views on communication within Magnolia House. The registered manager and provider were aware of these views and taking action to engage with all staff.

People and their relatives told us Magnolia House was a safe place to live. There were enough staff, who had the training, support and skills they required, to meet people's needs.

People’s needs had been clearly assessed. Since our last inspection, the provider and registered manager had reviewed their care planning systems. Each person had a clear and concise care plan. Care and nursing staff understood people’s needs. Professionals provided positive feedback on the improvements made at Magnolia House.

People were supported with their nutritional needs. People were supported with choice and enjoyed a varied diet.

Mental Capacity Act

Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. Where people were living under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards; staff understood the support they required.

Since our last inspection, the registered manager and provider had ensured records in relation to people’s mental capacity had been reviewed.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 June 2022).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 13 April 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve need for consent, safe care and treatment, and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check whether the Warning Notices we previously served in relation to Regulation 12 and Regulation 17, and the requirement notice in relation to Regulation 11, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For the key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Magnolia House on our website at www.qcq.org.uk

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.