Aegis Residential Care

Updated 23 December 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by an inspector, a regulatory co-ordinator 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.

Service and service type

Aegis Care Solutions at Trees Residential Home 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. Aegis Care Solutions at Trees Residential Home is a care home without 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. Inspection activity started on 20 November 2023 and ended on 13 December 2023. We visited the location’s service on 20 November 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it had been registered with us. 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 their families. We also spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager and support workers. We observed people in the dining room, the lounge and in their rooms. We reviewed a range of records which included 3 people's care records and various medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A range of records relating to the management of the service including audits, analyses of data and policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 23 December 2023

About the service

Aegis Care Solutions at Trees Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for up to 22 people who required personal care and support. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service.

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

The building was clean and tidy and regular maintenance checks were carried out. There were enough suitably trained staff to support people. Staff were recruited safely and we made a recommendation for the provider to review its systems and processes for renewing DBS checks for staff. The provider reflected on this recommendation and made immediate changes to its systems and processes for renewing DBS checks. People told us they felt safe and staff were kind and caring.

People’s medication was administered safely but some PRN (as and when medication) protocols were not in place. The registered manager took immediate action to include checks and reviews of PRN protocols as part of their ‘resident of the day’ review process.

A ‘resident of the day’ approach was used to review care plans and risk assessments. Moving and handling risks were detailed but detail describing the correct orientation of a sling was missing. This was brought to the attention of the registered manager who took action to address this during the inspection.

People were supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet and there was a varied menu developed by people who lived in the home.

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.

People's privacy, dignity and independence were respected and promoted and people were well treated and supported by well trained and caring staff.

People’s care plans were personalised and they were supported to make choices about participating in their chosen social and leisure interests on a regular basis.

People’s end of life care wishes were discussed and documented in their care plans.

The provider's systems did not always effectively monitor the quality of care provided to drive improvements. A range of audits were undertaken but they failed to identify some of the shortfalls we found during our inspection. Audits did not include checks for PRN protocols or how slings should be configured. The registered manager took immediate action to make changes to the audits and checks following our feedback on the day of inspection.

Staff received regular supervisions and told us they felt supported by their manager. There was a positive and caring culture at the service and it was calm and well organised.

Regular resident meetings took place along with surveys get feedback and views from people about their care, support, activities and food choices.

The service worked well in partnership with healthcare professionals.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22 September 2022 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 1 May 2018.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service, specifically, the time elapsed since the last full inspection and the change in provider.

Recommendations

We recommended the provider reviewed its systems and processes for renewing DBS checks for staff and that improvements to checks and audits are sustained and embedded into practice. The provider reflected on the recommendations and made immediate changes to its systems and processes.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.