Barlavington Manor

Updated 2 March 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 the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had 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 19 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 2 March 2022

About the service

Barlavington Manor is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 57 people aged 65 and over. At the time of our inspection, 53 people were in residence. The home consists of two parts: residential care in the 'Main House' and specialist dementia care in what is known as the 'North Wing'. There are also a number of bungalows located in the grounds, but these did not form part of our inspection since people living there do not receive personal care from the service. The home is situated in a rural location, close to the town of Petworth.

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

Without exception, everyone we spoke with talked about the outstanding care they received at Barlavington Manor. Everyone was happy to be living there and spoke positively about all aspects of the service.

Staff had excellent knowledge of people and there was a focus on the individual and on tailoring care and providing activities which were meaningful to them. One relative told us, “They know my Mum, they know her quirky ways and what she wants”. Group and individual activities were supported, according to what each person enjoyed. People we spoke with were clearly delighted by the activities and outings they had been a part of.

People received high quality care that improved their wellbeing. Staff actively supported people to remain independent and to retain their mobility. One relative spoke emotionally about how much better their loved one was since moving to the home earlier in the year.

People's communication needs were identified and planned for. People expressed confidence they could raise any issues or concerns with any member of staff or the management team and these would be addressed.

People could spend the rest of their lives at the home, if their needs could be met and this was their wish. Staff worked proactively with healthcare professionals to facilitate this.

Strong relationships were formed between staff and people due to the continuity of staff and the very caring approach of staff members. There was a homely welcoming atmosphere at the service and we observed very positive and caring relationships between people and staff. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions relating to their care and were treated with dignity and respect.

People spoke positively about the staff who supported them and had confidence in their skills and experience. A community nurse said, “The residents speak highly of the team and love the staff. Staff are always friendly”. Staff had regular supervisions and an annual appraisal. People enjoyed the food and were able to make suggestions for changes to the menu. Snacks and drinks were readily available throughout the day.

Care staff were well informed about risks to people's health or wellbeing and knew how to deliver their care safely. Staffing levels were enough to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed safely. The home was clean, and staff had been trained in infection prevention and control. Lessons were learned if things went wrong.

People had access to a range of healthcare professionals and support. Premises were suitable and comfortable and met people's needs. The environment in the North Wing was carefully adapted to support the needs of people living with dementia. People spoke enthusiastically about the gardens and we saw people enjoying the outdoor space.

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

There was strong and effective leadership and everyone we spoke with said they would recommend the home. Staff said it was the best place they had worked. The service was well organised and had a range of systems in place to ensure its smooth operation and to support good communication. Feedback from health and social care professionals who worked closely with the service consistently indicated that staff went the extra mile to deliver person centred care.

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 good (published 2 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.