Northgate House

Updated 2 December 2023

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Northgate 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. Northgate House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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 and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). 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 3 people and 1 relative. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager and cook. We spoke with a visiting professional. We reviewed 3 people’s care files in full, and aspects of 2 other people’s files. We reviewed a number of medicines administration records (MARs). We reviewed a variety of documents relating to the management and governance of the service.

Updated 2 December 2023

About the service

Northgate House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 33 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people using the service. People live in an adapted building suitable for their needs.

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

Risks to people were assessed and their safety monitored and managed. However, we identified some checks, although completed regularly, had not been undertaken by an appropriately competent person.

We have made a recommendation about the completion of some checks.

Safeguarding systems were in place and were embedded across the service. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and people told us they felt safe. People's independence and freedom were respected. Sufficient, suitable and trained staff were in place. Medicines were administered safely and appropriate guidance and practices were followed. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. Lessons were learned and improvements made when things went wrong; these were shared with staff.

People's needs and choices were assessed and regular reviews took place. Staff were appropriately trained and well-supported through induction, shadowing and competency checks. People received enough to eat and drink and were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Food, fluid and people's weights were monitored. Staff worked as an effective and cohesive team. There were effective systems in place to ensure people were supported to access appropriate healthcare when they needed it. 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.

People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion, and given emotional support when needed. People were encouraged and supported to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care. People's privacy, dignity and independence was respected and promoted.

People received personalised care which was responsive to their individual needs. People's care plans reflected their physical, mental, emotional and social needs. People's concerns and complaints were listened and responded to and used to improve the quality of care. People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.

There was a positive culture within the home which supported high quality care. The governance framework continued to be developed, in partnership with the Local Authority's advice. Quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements were understood and managed. The home had quality engagement with people, relatives and staff. There was a culture of continuous learning and improvement, led by the registered manager. The home had good working relationships with partner organisations to develop and improve the service.

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 the service under the previous provider was good (published 31 July 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was undertaken as part of CQC’s scheduled processes.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.