Bloomfield

Updated 12 August 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

The inspection team was made up of 2 inspectors and 2 Experts 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.

Service and service type

Bloomfield 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. Bloomfield is a care home with 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 25 people, 8 relatives and 15 staff, including care staff, unit managers and the registered manager. We reviewed various records related to the running of the service including audits, checks, care-plans and minutes of meetings. We received feedback from 1 healthcare professional.

Updated 12 August 2023

About the service

Bloomfield is a residential care home providing regulated activities accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, and treatment of disease, disorder and injury to up to 102 people. The service provides support to people living with dementia, older people and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 92 people using the service.

Bloomfield provides purpose built accommodation over 2 floors, both are accessible by stairs and a lift. Bedrooms have en-suite washing facilities and communal baths, showers and toilets are situated throughout the service. Lounges and dining areas are available on both floors and people have level access to a large, well-stocked garden. The registered manager’s office is located adjacent to reception.

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

At our last inspection we found the provider had failed to consistently submit statutory notifications in line with regulatory requirements. At this inspection we found statutory notifications were submitted as required. The registered manager worked with members of the management team to retain oversight of care quality and safety in the service. People and staff spoke positively about the registered manager.

Medicines were managed safely and risk assessments were in place to guide staff about how to keep people safe. Staff were aware of their responsibility to report potential safeguarding concerns. We received mixed comments about staffing levels. The registered manager told us staffing had recently been increased and they used a staffing tool to determine staffing levels, in line with people’s needs. Recruitment processes were in place to help prevent unsuitable applicants being employed in the service.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 11 November 2020) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bloomfield 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.