This inspection took place on 18 December 2017 and 10 January 2018 and both days were unannounced.Hawthorne Nursing Home is a ‘care home with nursing’. 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. Hawthorne Nursing Home accommodates up to 36 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection 25 people lived at Hawthorne Nursing Home.
The 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. 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post and she was available during the inspection.
During our previous inspection on 1 November 2016 we rated this service as ‘Requires Improvement’ and there were no breaches of regulations. At this inspection, we identified two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 at this inspection. You can see the action we have told the provider to take at the back of this report.
Staff knew how to keep people safe and understood their responsibilities to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks were managed so that people were protected from avoidable harm and were not unnecessarily restricted. Sufficient staff were on duty to meet people’s needs and staff were recruited through safe recruitment practices.
Medicines were safely managed and people were protected against the risk of infection. Themes and trends in relation to accidents and incidents were reviewed and investigations of specific incidents were carried out.
People’s needs and choices were assessed and care was delivered in a way that helped to prevent discrimination and was in line with evidence based guidance. Staff received appropriate training, support and supervision. People received sufficient to eat and drink.
People’s healthcare needs were monitored and responded to appropriately. External professionals were involved where appropriate; however, we saw one example of where the service did not provide a fully effective transfer for a person moving to another service.
Adaptions and signage to the premises ensured it was suitable for people. 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 were cared for by staff who were pleasant and kind; staff were mindful of how people felt and offered reassurance. People were involved in decisions about their care and support and information had been made available in accessible formats. Advocacy information was made available to people.
Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence. Most people’s visitors and friends were able to visit without being restricted; however, we saw one example where the provider had stopped a family member from visiting their relative in the care home. We were told of the reasons for this but we concluded that not all reasonable steps had been taken by the provider prior to the restriction.
One relative’s complaints were not responded to appropriately.
Staff were aware of people’s interests, hobbies and preferences; staff took steps to ensure people enjoyed meaningful activities and stayed connected to their local community.
People were involved in planning their care and support. People were treated equally, without discrimination. The registered manager had limited knowledge of the Accessible Information Standard, however efforts had been made to ensure people with communication needs and/or sensory impairment received appropriate support.
Processes were in place for supporting people with end of life care where appropriate.
The provider and registered manager were not fully meeting their regulatory responsibilities and systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided were not fully effective.
A clear vision and values for the service were in place. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager.
People and their relatives were involved or had opportunities to be involved in the development of the service.