OSJCT Ermine House

Updated 13 June 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 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 19 March 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. The inspector returned to the service on 5 April 2018 to provide feedback to the registered manager who was on leave on the day of the inspection.

We did not request a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

Before the inspection we reviewed any information we held about the service. We reviewed safeguarding alerts and notifications that had been sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During our inspection we spoke with the area operations manager, the head of care, three members of care staff, the cook, two housekeepers, the activity coordinator and five people who lived at the service and two visiting relatives. We also observed staff interacting with people in communal areas, providing care and support. Following our inspection we returned to speak with the registered manager.

We looked at a range of records related to the running of and the quality of the service. These included five staff recruitment and induction files, staff training information, meeting minutes and arrangements for managing complaints. We looked at the quality assurance audits that the registered manager and the provider completed. We also looked at care plans for five people and medicine administration records for seven people.

Updated 13 June 2018

OSJCT Ermine House 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. OSJCT Ermine House accommodates up to 45 people in one adapted building. There were 39 people living in the home when we visited.

At our 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 risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Systems and processes were in place to keep people safe from the risk of harm and abuse. People had their medicines administered safely by trained and competent staff. The service was clean and staff adhered to safe infection control practices.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People had their care needs assessed and their care was planned in line with up to date guidance and legislation. There were sufficient staff to care for a person's individual needs and staff were trained appropriately. People were provided with a balanced and nutritious diet and had access to a range of healthcare services.

People were cared for by kind, caring and compassionate staff. People and staff had a good relationship and the service had a homely atmosphere. People were cared for as unique individuals and their privacy and dignity were respected.

Staff supported people to spend their time as they wished. There was a range of internal and external activities tailored to individual needs and pastimes. People had an advanced care plan to protect their wishes at the end of their life to achieve a comfortable and pain free death.

People spoke highly of the care they received and the attitude of staff. Staff enjoyed working at the service and were proud of their achievements. The provider had a robust approach to monitoring the quality of the care people receive. The registered manager had built a good relationship with key organisations and the local community.

People who live in the service and staff have a voice and are supported to give their feedback on the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below