Tupwood Gate

Updated 2 June 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 was a comprehensive inspection and it took place on 12 April 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector, a specialist advisor in nursing care 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.

Before the inspection we gathered information about the service by contacting the local and placing authorities. In addition, we reviewed records held by CQC which included notifications, complaints and any safeguarding concerns. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at the inspection.

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.

As part of our inspection we spoke with nine people and one relative. We spoke with the registered manager, the provider’s quality manager, the clinical lead, the chef, two nurses and three care staff. We also observed the care that people received and how staff interacted with them.

We read care plans for five people, medicines records and the records of accidents and incidents. We looked at mental capacity assessments and applications made to deprive people of their liberty. We looked at four staff recruitment files and records of staff training and supervision. We saw records of quality assurance audits. We looked at records of surveys and minutes of meetings of people and staff.

Updated 2 June 2018

Tupwood Gate 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.

Tupwood Gate is a nursing home that provides support to up to 35 people. They provide nursing care to older people, people with long term medical conditions and people living with dementia. Care is provided across multiple floors in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection, there were 27 people living at the home.

The inspection took place on 12 April 2018 and was unannounced.

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.

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At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

People’s care was delivered safely with personal risks assessed and managed. Staff responded appropriately to incidents or concerns and were knowledgeable about safeguarding processes. People’s medicines were managed and administered safely and people lived in a clean and safe home environment. There were sufficient numbers of staff at the home to meet people’s needs safely and checks had been undertaken on all staff to ensure they were suitable for their roles.

People liked the food they were served but information on choices was not always clear to them. We made a recommendation about information on meal options. Staff had the appropriate training for their roles and staff provided support that met people’s healthcare needs. 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. The building was adapted to make the home accessible to people.

Staff were caring and people’s feedback on them was positive. People received care that was dignified and people’s privacy was respected by staff. Staff found ways to encourage people’s independence and to involve them in their care.

Care was delivered in a person-centred way. People had access to a range of activities and further improvements were underway in this area. People’s care plans reflected what was important to them and had been regularly reviewed. End of life care was provided in a sensitive and person-centred way and the provider had received a number of compliments in this area. There was a clear complaints policy and complaints were documented and responded to appropriately.

People knew the registered manager and had regular meetings to involve them in the running of the home. Regular checks on care were carried out through a variety of audits and the provider took action where improvements had been identified. There were strong links with the local community that people benefitted from. Staff felt supported by management and there were robust communications systems in place for staff.

Further information is in the detailed findings below