Nightingale Court Care Home

Updated 7 July 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Nightingale Court Care Home 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. Nightingale Court Care Home 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for approximately 3 months and had submitted an application to register. Soon after the inspection, the manager became registered with CQC.

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 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 7 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the manager, care workers, housekeeper and chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people’s care records and medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 7 July 2023

About the service

Nightingale Court Care Home is a 'care home'. Nightingale Court Care Home accommodates up to 35 people in one adapted building living with dementia and physical frailty. At the time of the inspection the home was providing care and support to 33 people.

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

Risks associated with people’s health conditions and support needs were not always assessed, monitored, or mitigated safely. The manager acted on these concerns promptly.

We have recommended that medicine records are improved.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had effective safeguarding systems in place. There were enough staff to safely meet people's needs. Overall, effective systems were in place to prevent and control the spread of infection.

We have recommended the provider seeks reputable guidance to ensure people live in a dementia friendly environment.

Staff told us they had enough training to carry out their roles effectively and were well supported. The provider worked well with healthcare professionals to ensure joined up care and good outcomes for people. People were supported to ensure their nutritional needs were met.

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 and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was promoted. We observed positive interactions between people and staff which enhanced people’s well-being.

We have made a recommendation to ensure people who spent much of their time in their rooms are supported with meaningful activities that meet their emotional and social needs.

Care records were being improved to ensure people received personalised care. People received compassionate care at the end of their lives and were appropriately supported at this time.

The provider’s quality assurance systems were not fully effective in identifying all concerns in the service or driving sufficient improvement. We have made a recommendation about this. When the provider was made aware of any issues they acted promptly and effectively to address them.

The service had a positive person-centred culture. People and relatives were happy with the care people received at Nightingale Court Care Home. Staff felt valued and enjoyed their work.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 February 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the safe care and treatment of people. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led domains of this full report.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to the assessment, monitoring and mitigation of risk. We have made recommendations about the environment people live in, activities for those who spend much of their time in their rooms and the providers quality assurance systems.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.