Atfield House

Updated 5 September 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 was conducted by 2 inspectors, a nurse specialist advisor and an Expert by Experience who spoke with people living in the home. 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

Atfield 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. Atfield House 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 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 7 people who used the service and 2 relatives. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, nurses and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and various medicines records. We looked at 3 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. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and we spoke with a further four relatives for feedback about their experience of the service.

Updated 5 September 2023

About the service

Atfield House is part of Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited and is registered for 68 people. It is a care home with nursing that accommodates people with dementia care needs and people with frail elderly care needs across three units. At the time of the inspection 63 people were using the service.

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

People received a high level of person-centred care and were supported to have choice and control. Staff spent time identifying people’s needs and wishes so they understood what a good quality of life might look like to the person. By identifying activities people could engage in, and that they were interested in, the service improved people’s quality of life by developing their confidence and providing a sense of purpose. This motivated people to try new things which contributed to their independence, self-esteem and feeling good.

The provider received feedback from people using the service about what activities they would like to participate in, and a number of activities were available to help people choose an activity that was meaningful to them. People were supported to maintain links with family and friends, and we observed visitors during the inspection.

Staff were well trained in providing end of life care to help ensure people were cared for in a dignified and caring way. Families were also supported at this time so they could focus on being with their relative and not have to worry about the person’s care.

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.

The provider had systems in place to help safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff completed training on how to recognise safeguarding concerns and they knew how to respond appropriately. Risks to people’s wellbeing had been identified and assessed. Medicines were managed and administered safely. Safe recruitment procedures were followed and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Safe infection prevention and control procedures were followed to help protect people from the risk of infection.

The provider had processes to monitor, manage and improve service delivery and to improve the care and support provided to people. People using the service and staff reported the registered manager was approachable and promoted an open work environment. Clear leadership contributed to people and staff being positive about the management of the home and feeling valued and respected.

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 good (published 6 March 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

This was a focused inspection, and this report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led. 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 remained 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 Atfield 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.