Springfields Nursing Home

Updated 29 December 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 comprehensive took place over two days: 20 November 2018 which was unannounced, and the 21 November 2018 which was announced. The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors, who were joined on the first day by another adult social care inspector who was shadowing the inspection as part of their induction.

We reviewed information we had received about the service such as notifications. This is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also looked at information sent to us from other stakeholders including the local authority and members of the public and we reviewed the providers Information return. This is a form which asked the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from health and social care professionals who regularly visited the service.

We met people living in the service throughout the two days and spoke with six people to ask their views. We spoke with four relatives and a health professional who had contact with the service. We also observed the care and support provided to people and the interaction between staff and people.

We spoke with the nominated individual (the person who represents the company), the registered manager, area manager, and eight staff which included, nurses, care staff, the activity organiser and the chef. We looked at three staff records, which included staff recruitment, training and supervision records. We reviewed records relating to five people’s care including observation checks, risk assessments, end of life care, pain management, ‘This is me’ and nutritional records.

We looked at three staff personnel files and records relating to the management of the service. This included the provider’s systems for safe administration of medicines, minutes of meetings, fire safety, legionella and environmental risk assessments, training and systems for assessing and monitoring the quality of the service.

Updated 29 December 2018

This inspection took place over two days; 20 and 21 November 2018, the first day was unannounced.

Springfields 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.

The service accommodates up to 37 people, providing nursing, respite, dementia care, end of life palliative care, and supporting people with complex health conditions. Springfields Nursing Home normally supports older people. However, at the time of the inspection the service was providing nursing care for 24 people, one of whom was under 65 years, as their needs could be accommodated.

The purpose built, single storey accommodation, is set in 12 acres of gardens, and offers single, en-suite bedrooms. The provider also has a second registered service within the same grounds, which was providing residential care.

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.’

People told us they felt safe in the care of staff and were happy living in the service. There were systems in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff had been recruited using safe recruitment practices. Staff were aware of their responsibilities and knew how to report concerns.

Systems were in place to reduce or eliminate any risks. People received their medicines as prescribed and were supported to access healthcare professionals. Staff were prompt in referring people to health services when required.

People were being supported by staff who received training and supervision to enable them to provide effective support in meeting their needs.

Meal times were relaxed. People were given choice and supported to eat and drink enough as part of meeting their nutritional needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and people's consent was sought appropriately.

Staff were respectful and caring, supporting people to maintain their dignity and independence. The culture within the service had improved. Views of the people living in the service, their relatives, and staff were being sought, listened to and used to drive improvements. We saw improvements in the range of activities to support people’s emotional and social wellbeing.

People, and where applicable, their relatives were being involved in care planning to ensure it reflected their current needs. People were being consulted over their end of life care needs, which were documented and acted on by compassionate, caring staff.

People spoke about the approachability of the management, and told us the service was well run, and had good reputation locally. The managerial oversight in the service had improved. Audit and quality assurance systems were in place to ensure that the quality of care was consistently assessed, monitored and improved.