Carr Croft Care Home

Updated 24 February 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures.

This was a targeted inspection triggered by an outbreak of COVID-19 to look at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 08 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice.

Updated 24 February 2022

This comprehensive inspection took place on the 2 and 14 November 2018 and was unannounced.

Carr Croft Care Home 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.

Carr Croft Care Home is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 35 older people some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 30 people using the service at the time of this inspection.

At our last inspection in February 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was no registered manager at the service. 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. A new manager, who had been the previous registered manager of the service, had been appointed and was due to re-commence shortly after our inspection. An acting manager and the provider had managed the service in the interim period.

People continued to feel safe using the service and staffing levels were sufficient to provide safe care. We found some improvements were needed to fully ensure the safe management of medicines. The acting manager took prompt action to ensure the issues with the management of medicines were addressed by the end of the inspection. People were protected from avoidable harm as staff received training and understood how to recognise signs of abuse and who to report this to. Safe recruitment practices were followed to make sure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staff were trained in good hygiene practice and were supplied with personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; policies and procedures in the service supported this practice. Staff asked for people's consent before providing any care and understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People and their relatives had been involved in assessments of care needs and had their choices and wishes respected.

The provider had a plan in place to ensure staff attended required training. We received positive feedback about the effective care and support provided. People told us staff were well trained. Staff were supported in their on-going development through supervision and appraisals. Staff said they received good support from the provider.

People received appropriate support to meet their nutritional needs. People’s nutritional needs were assessed and monitored and they enjoyed the food and variety of choice available to them. The service worked well with health professionals such as nurses, doctors and occupational therapists to promote people's health needs.

There was a positive and inclusive culture at the service. The provider promoted a culture of dignified and respectful care. People told us they were supported by staff who were kind, caring and compassionate. Staff knew people well and made sure people received care and support that was personal to their needs and was responsive to any changing needs. Care plans were person-centred and gave good detailed guidance for staff to follow.

People and their relatives had regular contact with the acting manager or provider and reported no difficulties in raising any concerns about the service if necessary. Effective systems were in place to manage any complaints and concerns. People, their relatives and staff were positive about the way the service was managed. The provider continued to monitor and assess the quality and safety of the service they were providing to people.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.