Archived: Heatherbrook

Updated 14 September 2017

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.

The inspection took place on 16 May 2017 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information available to us about the service, such as the notifications that they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with two people, three relatives and a GP. We also spoke with three care staff, two nursing staff, a laundry assistant, a chef, a manager and the registered manager. We observed how care was delivered and reviewed the care records and risk assessments. We checked medicine administration records and reviewed how complaints were managed. We looked at six recruitment records and staff training records. We also reviewed various health and safety records and information on how the quality of the service was monitored and managed.

Updated 14 September 2017

The inspection took place on 16 May 2017 and was unannounced. At our previous inspections on 11 December 2014 and 13 October 2015, the service met all legal requirements and was rated 'Good'.

Heatherbrook is a 45 bedded care home providing nursing care for people with dementia. Accommodation is provided on two floors and each person has a single

bedroom. The ground floor has 20 bedrooms and there are 25 bedrooms on the first floor. At the time of the visit, there were 34 people using the service.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

We found that the service did not always deploy enough staff to meet people's needs and staff worked long hours. We have made a recommendation about this. Staff were caring and kind to ensure people were not at risk of harm. Care plans and risk assessments were completed for each person using the service. People using the service were treated with respect and dignity and that their privacy was ensured.

There was a robust recruitment system in place to ensure staff were appropriately checked before they started work at the service. The support and training available to staff helped them to deliver care that reflected and met people's needs. Medicine administration was undertaken by staff who had training and experience. People were also encouraged and supported to make their own decisions regarding their care and the service operated in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

There were a range of activities in which people could participate. People's healthcare needs were monitored and appropriate care was provided. The food provided at the service was varied and nutritious.

Staff worked as a team supporting one another. The registered manager sought the views of stakeholders through surveys and meetings to ensure continuous improvement of the service.

We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.