Background to this inspection
Updated
29 June 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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 three inspectors.
Service and service type
Alum Care Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The manager had applied for registration with the Care Quality Commission.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service one hour’s notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to check our visit was carried out in a way which complied with the provider’s policies and procedures about infection control and the use of PPE during the coronavirus pandemic.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included safeguarding referrals and notifications of significant events. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who lived and four relatives. We also spoke with the manager, the clinical lead, the regional manager, the activities co-ordinator and five nursing and care staff.
We reviewed six people’s care records, including their risk assessments and support plans. We looked at five staff recruitment files, accident and incident records, quality monitoring systems and the arrangements for managing medicines.
After the inspection
The manager sent us further information, including training records, quality monitoring checks and audits. We received feedback from a healthcare professional who worked with the service.
Updated
29 June 2021
About the service
Alum Care Limited is a care home with nursing for up to 64 adults. The service specialises in the care of people with long-term neurological needs, including Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease and multiple sclerosis. There were 44 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received their care from regular staff with whom they had established positive relationships. Staff were available when people needed them. People told us staff had worked hard to keep them safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
The quality of care plans had improved since our last inspection. People’s care plans were detailed and personalised. They contained clear guidance for staff about how to provide people’s care according to their individual needs and preferences.
Risks to people were effectively identified and mitigated, which had improved outcomes for people. Learning took place if adverse events occurred. Incidents were reviewed to identify any actions that could reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again.
People were protected by the provider’s recruitment procedures. Staff understood their role in protecting people from abuse and knew how to report any concerns they had. People’s medicines were managed safely.
Additional infection control measures had been implemented to protect people and staff during the pandemic. These measures included the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), more frequent cleaning of the home and ensuring staff were up to date with guidance about infection control.
Staff had the skills and training they needed to provide people’s care. All staff had an induction when they started work and access to regular supervision. The manager and clinical lead helped staff keep up to date with best practice and any changes to guidance about the delivery of care.
People said they enjoyed the food at the home and could make choices about what they ate. The menu was changed regularly and people were asked for suggestions for future menus. People with specific dietary needs were referred to relevant healthcare professionals for assessment and any subsequent guidance followed by staff.
The manager and senior staff team had implemented effective quality monitoring systems. Regular audits helped ensure people received safe and effective care. Communication of important information amongst the staff team had improved. Staff were given daily updates about people’s needs and any changes to their care.
The culture amongst the staff team was positive and mutually supportive. Staff felt valued for the work they did and told us they were well supported by the manager and senior staff team.
People told us they had opportunities to give feedback about the home and the support they received. They said staff listened to and acted upon what they had to say. People told us they could speak with the registered manager or a senior member of staff if they wished.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 June 2019).
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 19 April 2019. We rated the key questions Safe, Effective and Well-led required improvement.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had made the required improvements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this 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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor the service action plan to understand what the provider will do to improve standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.