St Joseph's - Manchester

Updated 14 December 2019

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 planned this inspection to check 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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by an inspector, a medicine’s inspector, an assistant inspector and one 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.

Service and service type

St Joseph’s - Manchester 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

The first day of inspection was unannounced. The second day was announced. We visited on a third day to gather additional service user voice to help support our judgements.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service from the provider 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 with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with fifteen people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with ten members of staff including the deputy manager, a personal assistant, a unit manager, care staff, activities co-ordinator, maintenance and a cook. We also spoke with two volunteers.

We reviewed a range of records. These included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four 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 also reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found and spoke with a night care worker by telephone. We also contacted and spoke with two health professionals who visit the service for additional feedback.

Updated 14 December 2019

St Joseph’s – Manchester, is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 43 older people, including people living with dementia and more complex nursing needs. There were 30 people using the service at the time of this unannounced inspection. There were reduced levels of occupancy at the time of this inspection due to building works on site, as part of a larger expansion project.

The facilities available within the service included private bedrooms with en-suites and communal living areas such as dining rooms, lounges and sitting areas. People also had access to a chapel, a library, an activities room, a hair dressing salon, a hall, a shop, a treatment room, a roof top garden and other well-maintained gardens on site.

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

People, relatives, staff and professionals told us the service was managed exceptionally well. People and their families felt relationships with the staff team were genuine and appreciated the kindness and support offered to them.

The service operated in a way that demonstrated there was an open and transparent culture at the service.

The home worked in tandem with other health professionals to make sure people received the right care and support to maintain good health. This was a priority for them. People’s dining experiences were superb on every day of our inspection and people told us meals were varied and tasty.

People were placed at the heart of the service and they recognised and fully appreciated this. Living at St Joseph’s - Manchester had helped people regain a sense of purpose. They were made to feel important and special.

Staff provided excellent care for people approaching the end of their lives, having received guidance and training from expert health professionals. This compassion and support was also extended to family members at difficult times.

The staff and management team showed a genuine understanding and compassion for the people they supported. They continuously sought to improve people’s experiences of care and strove to maintain safety and security for all.

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 home excelled at supporting people maintain relationships that were already important to them. It also helped bring people together and form new friendships often, though not exclusively, through shared beliefs and a strong faith.

Staff told us they received the leadership and direction they needed. There were regular meetings, supervisions and access to mandatory and bespoke training. Staff felt appreciated by excellent management, who led by example. Staff morale was high as all staff were happy working at the service and felt a valued part of the team.

The service had effective systems of quality assurance in place which continuously assessed and monitored the quality of the service. This included obtaining feedback from people who used the service, their relatives and professionals. The service promoted an extremely person-centred approach and excellent outcomes for the people who used it.

One of the provider’s values is the participation in the mission of hospitality to the elderly in a committed on-going way, following in the footsteps of its founder, Saint Jeanne Jugan. People living at St Joseph’s - Manchester and their relatives described to us in detail how excellent the home was and the positive impact the service had made to their lives and wellbeing.

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

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection we gave the service a rating of good (published 20 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.