This inspection took place on 25 and 26 October and was unannounced.Croxteth Park Care Home is registered to provide accommodation for up 42 people with personal care needs. Accommodation can be found across two separate units, each of which have separate adapted facilities. At the time of the inspection, 39 people were living at the home. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQQ 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.
The previous comprehensive inspection took place in March 2016. The home was awarded an overall rating of ‘Good’.
We then conducted a focused inspection in April 2017. We received information of concern from the Office of the Coroner relating to the management of falls and the assessment of people's capacity to consent to care. The focused inspection concentrated on three of the five key questions we inspect against; safe, effective and well-led domains. We found that the registered provider was complying with all Health and Social Care Act Regulations and the rating of ‘Good’ remained.
During this inspection, we identified breaches of regulation in relation to ‘Safe Care and Treatment’ and ‘Good Governance’. We are taking a number of appropriate actions to protect people who are living at Croxteth Park Care Home.
We found that people were exposed to environmental risks and were not always receiving safe care and treatment. A cleaning cupboard which contained harmful chemicals was accessible to people who lived at the home, dangerous items such as a pair of scissors and a sling aid was found in communal areas, a hot water urn was accessible to people who had been assessed as lacking capacity and not all fire doors were effectively closing within their door frames.
We checked to see how the quality and safety of the care people received was regularly monitored and assessed. We found that systems and processes were in place; however, these were not always effective. We found that health and safety audits and checks were not always completed and the issues we identified during the inspection had not been identified.
We checked to see if the registered provider was complying with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005. Mental capacity assessments were routinely carried and the necessary deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) were submitted to the local authority. However, we identified that capacity assessments were not always decision specific and people’s ‘consent’ paperwork was not always completed.
We have made a recommendation about the Mental Capacity Assessment processes and documentation.
Staff told us they were familiar with the needs of the people they supported, although records did not always contain sufficient information in relation to people’s social histories, preferences, interests and wishes.
We have made a recommendation about obtaining information to help staff provide person-centred care.
People were encouraged to engage in a range of different activities. Activities co-ordinators were in post; activities were arranged around people’s likes, interests and hobbies.
A complaints procedure was in place. People and relatives told us that they knew how to raise any concerns if they ever needed to. Complaints were responded to in accordance to organisational policy.
People’s risk was safely managed. Risk assessments contained up to date and relevant information and staff told us they were informed of any changes in people’s needs on a daily basis.
Medication processes were safely in place. Staff received medication administration training and there was an up to date medication administration policy in place.
Staff personnel files we checked had the appropriate recruitment checks in place. Personnel files, with one exception, contained application forms complete with employment and education history, appropriate references and the necessary ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ (DBS) checks.
We found that there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s needs in a timely way. The registered manager explained that there had been some problems with staffing levels prior to the inspection but staffing levels had improved.
Accidents and incidents were routinely recorded and analysed and trends were established in order to mitigate further risk.
People told us they felt safe living in Croxteth Park. Staff were knowledgeable around the area of safeguarding and whistleblowing. Staff knew how to report concerns and who to report their concerns to. Staff completed safeguarding training and there was an up to sate safeguarding policy in place.
The home was clean, hygienic and odour-free. Infection control and health and safety measures were in place. Staff were familiar with health and safety policies and ensured that infection prevention measures were complied with.
Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and could seek support on a daily basis. Staff were supported with supervision, training and development opportunities.
People living at Croxteth Park were supported by external healthcare professionals. A holistic level of care and support was provided. Staff followed any guidance which needed to be followed and any guidance provided was incorporated within the care records.
People’s nutrition and hydration support needs were safely managed. People were regularly assessed and measures were in place to monitor and mitigate risk.
People were happy with the quality and standard of food provided. Seasonal menus were offered throughout the year and people had the opportunity to share their likes, dislikes and preferences.
People living at Croxteth Park told us staff were kind, caring and treated them with respect although we identified during our 'mealtime experience' observations that staff could engage and interact with people more frequently.
Confidential information was stored securely and protected in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). People’s personal information was appropriately protected and sensitive information was not unnecessarily shared with others.
Systems were in place to gather feedback of the people living at Croxteth Park. People and relatives had the opportunity to share their thoughts and suggestions in relation to the quality and safety of care provided.
The registered provider had a range of policies and procedures in place. Policies were accessible to staff and staff demonstrated their understanding of a number of policies we discussed with them during the inspection.
The registered manager was aware of the regulatory responsibilities. They had notified CQC of events and incidents that occurred in the home which enabled us to monitor the provision of care people received.