Stamford House Care Home

Updated 24 February 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors (which included a medicines inspector).

Service and service type

Stamford House Care 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. Stamford House Care 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 2 registered managers in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 25 January 2023 and ended on 26 January 2023. We visited the service on both days.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 4 people who used the service and 2 visiting professionals about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered managers, the operations director, senior care worker, care worker and domestic staff. During the inspection, we visited both floors of the home and we reviewed a range of records. This included reviewing 3 people's care records in detail. During the inspection we also looked at 4 people's medicines records, storage of medicines and various medicines documentation. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 24 February 2023

About the service

Stamford House Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require personal care for to up to 23 people. The service provides support to younger people, older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service. The care home accommodates people across 2 floors in 1 building.

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

Recruitment practices had improved, but we found historic gaps in employment which had not been addressed. We made a recommendation about this. Staffing levels had improved, and the service had addressed the issues from the last inspection in relation to medicines and safe medicine systems were in place. Environmentally, further improvements had been made and appropriate risk assessments were in place. People were safeguarded from risk of abuse. We found infection prevention control was being appropriately managed and people were supported to have visitors. The service was learning from incidents.

Care plans were much improved, though there was still some minor work needed. We made a recommendation about this. Food stocks were being appropriately managed, and people were supported to eat a balanced diet. Staff received regular supervisions and completed appropriate training. People were supported with their healthcare needs. Some adaptations had been made to the home; however, further work was needed to make it more dementia friendly. The registered managers were working on this. 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 were supported to express their views and were involved in planning their own care along with their relatives and staff. People were treated with dignity and respect and equality and diversity was being considered. Staff were caring and kind and people’s confidential information was stored appropriately.

An activities coordinator had been recruited and activities in the home had improved. Records relating to person centred care were much improved and people were able to make everyday choices. No one in the service was at end of life at the time of our inspection. A complaints procedure was in place and both registered managers knew how to ensure information was made accessible to people.

Audit and oversight had greatly improved, although there were still some small areas in which this could be strengthened. We made a recommendation about this. Necessary referrals were being made and the registered managers spoke about being open and honest when things go wrong. Staff worked in partnership with various agencies to support people and staff meetings were taking place. Surveys had been sent out to people, their relatives and staff and the results had been analysed. The home had a positive culture and staff spoke positively about the changes the new registered manager had implemented.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 November 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we made recommendations about activities, appropriately reviewing food stocks and environmental risk assessments and at this inspection we noted improvements in these areas. At our last inspection we also made a recommendation about recruitment and some improvement had been made but there was still further work to do in this area.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Recommendations

We have made recommendations in relation to recruitment, records relating to person centred care and governance.

Follow up

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