Archived: Barnfield Residential Home

Updated 23 June 2016

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 inspection took place on 26 and 27 May 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. At the time of this inspection there were 20 people living at the home.

Before the inspection we reviewed all of the information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications from the provider about all significant events, incidents and deaths. We also looked at the information we received from the provider in a document called a provider Information Return. We also looked at information we had received from people who used the service, their relatives and friends, and from members of staff.

During our inspection we spoke with the registered manager, seven staff, and ten people who lived in the home,. We looked at four care plans and tracked the care people received following their admission. We also spoke with one relative and two external professionals who were visiting the home at the time of our visit.

We walked around the home and grounds to check the maintenance, decoration and cleanliness of the home. We looked at the way medicines were stored and administered. We also looked at other records held in the home including staff rotas, staff recruitment records, records of cash held on behalf of people, complaints and compliments, menus, daily reports, daily handover records, and quality assurance records.

Updated 23 June 2016

This inspection took place on 26 and 27 May 2016 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector. The service was last inspected on 18 July 2014. At that inspection we found the care people received was satisfactory and there were no breaches of compliance.

Barnfield Residential Home is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 24 older people. At the time of this inspection there were 20 people living there.

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 were happy with the service they received. Comments included, “I cannot fault the carers. You could not get better carers anywhere,” and “They are Lovely.” People were protected from abuse because the provider had systems in place to ensure checks of new staff character and suitability to work with vulnerable adults were carried out. Staff had also received training in protecting vulnerable people from abuse.

During our inspection we saw there were sufficient staff on duty, although some people and staff told us there were certain times of the day when staff were sometimes rushed. The registered manager told us staffing levels had recently been increased in the mornings and this had made a positive improvement. Staffing levels in the evenings had also been adjusted and they were keeping this under review.

Medicines were stored and administered safely. There were some gaps in the administration records for creams, although the daily records contained evidence that creams had been applied. During our inspection the manager put new systems in place to ensure medicine administration records would be checked at the end of each shift and any errors or omissions investigated and addressed immediately.

There were safe storage and recording systems in place for money held by the home on behalf of those people who requested assistance with cash for their day-to-day spending needs, such as hairdressing and toiletries.

Each person had been consulted and involved in drawing up a comprehensive plan covering all aspects of their health and personal care needs. The plans were divided into sections to enable information to be located quickly. Information in the plans had been regularly reviewed and provided good information for staff on all tasks the person wanted support and assistance with. This included all areas of potential risk.

People were supported to obtain medical advice and treatment promptly when necessary. Staff offered to escort people to medical appointments if necessary.

Staff were caring. Comments included “They are lovely. It’s nice when you have people like that”, and “The staff are marvellous.” Throughout our inspection we saw staff treating people with kindness and respect. They responded positively and promptly to requests for assistance.

People knew how to raise a complaint and said they would not hesitate to speak with the registered manager if they had any concerns. Information on how to make a complaint was displayed in each bedroom.

People were offered a range of activities throughout the week on an individual and group basis. An activities co-ordinator was employed in the home two days per week. A notice board in the main entrance showed the activities on offer each day. This included visits from entertainers and external organisations.

People told us the home was well managed. There were monitoring systems in place covering all aspects of the service and action plans had been put in place to address any issues arising from these. The kitchen had recently been upgraded and a major programme of updating and improvement was about to begin to all areas, including upgrading the fire precautions and redecoration of most areas.