Pentlands Nursing Home

Updated 18 April 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 12 and 13 February 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector 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 service.

Before the inspection we checked information that we held about the home and the service provider. This included information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications of significant events the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell the Care Quality Commission about by law. We also looked at information sent to us by the provider following the inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with eight people and four visiting relatives or friends of people who lived at the home. We spoke with three care staff, the activities coordinator, two chefs, the registered manager and a member of the nursing staff team. We also spoke to the provider’s director of nursing.

We spent time observing the care and support people received in communal areas of the home. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) which is a way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at the care plans and associated records for five people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s internal checks and audits, staff training records, staff rotas, accidents, incidents, records of medicines administered to people and complaints. We looked at staff training records, staff duty rosters and staff supervision records. We also spoke with a GP who was visiting the service.

Updated 18 April 2018

This inspection took place on 12 and 13 February 2018 and was unannounced.

Pentlands Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Pentlands Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 32 older people. The service provided care to 27 people at the time of the inspection. Pentlands Nursing Home is a large detached building with accommodation on two floors and a passenger lift to all the floors. All bedrooms are single and each has an suite bathroom or en suite toilet. There are also communal bathrooms on each floor. Each bedroom has a ceiling track hoist to people can be moved without the need for a mobile hoist. Communal lounge and a dining room are also provided. people have access to outside space in the garden.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

Pentlands Nursing Home is a care home with nursing services and is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 32 older people. Pentlands Nursing Home is a large detached building with accommodation on two floors and a passenger lift to all the floors. The service provided care to 27 people at the time of the inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People’s views were sought as part of the service’s quality assurance process and changes were made following comments from people. There were a number of audits and checks on the safety and quality of the services provided. Whilst these were comprehensive we identified one area where this needed to be in more detail to ensure adequate checks on safety were maintained. We have made a recommendation about this.

People and their relatives said they felt the service was safe. Staff were trained in safeguarding procedures and had a good awareness of the importance of protecting people. Risks to people were assessed and action taken to mitigate these.

Medicines were safely managed. Sufficient numbers of staff were provided and checks were made on the suitability of new staff to work in a care setting. The service was clean and hygienic. Reviews of care and incidents took place often in conjunction with local primary medical teams so improvements could be made.

People’s health care needs were assessed and any medical needs followed up.

Staff were provided with a range of training including an induction for newly appointed staff and nationally recognised qualifications in care. Staff were encouraged and supported to enhance their skills and knowledge. The service had links with a local college which provided training.

People’s nutritional needs were met. Nutritious and varied meals were provided and people were able to choose their meals. Specialist diets were provided such as for people living with diabetes or those whose needs meant they were not able to chew or swallow food easily.

The premises were well maintained and adapted for those with mobility needs such as ramped areas for wheelchair users and track hoists in all bedrooms so people could be lifted without the need for a mobile hoist.

Where people did not have capacity to consent to their care and treatment this was assessed. Where these people had their liberty restricted an application for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) had been made to the local authority. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s right to privacy and independence were promoted. Staff treated people with kindness and as individuals. People and their families were consulted about their care although we noted this was not always clearly detailed in care plans.

People received responsive care. Each person’s needs were assessed and recorded along with care plans which were individualised to show how care needs should be met. Records were maintained on an electronic system which allowed staff to easily access and monitor people’s changing needs.

The complaints procedure was available and people reported that they were able to raise any concerns or issues which were resolved. Records of complaints and how they were dealt with were maintained. These showed a response was made to complainants along with an apology, if relevant, and as set out in the Duty of Candour regulation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Further information is in the detailed findings below