Arden House

Updated 3 December 2020

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Arden House Residential 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority 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 one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three relatives over the telephone. We spoke with the registered manager, one member of care staff and the housekeeper/cook.

We walked around the service and observed care and social interactions throughout the service using infection, prevention and control and socially distanced practices.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and three people’s medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence from the inspection.

Updated 3 December 2020

About the service

Arden House Residential Home is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to 13 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 14 people.

The service is within one adapted building with accommodation and communal facilities over two floors. There is a stair lift to the first floor.

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

The registered manager provided leadership and oversight within the service. Some audits and records required updates, but the registered manager was confident that these would be completed within the next four weeks. We have made a recommendation in the report about this.

People felt safe and well looked after. All areas were clean, tidy and there was sufficient cleaning taking place to keep people safe from the risk of infection. Relatives said they were confident that staff provided good care in a safe way.

Care plans and risk assessments were in place for people's support needs. People and their families confirmed that they were able to contribute their views on care and support.

Systems were in place for the assessment, monitoring and mitigation of risk towards people who used the service. The registered manager analysed falls and incidents to ensure learning from events was undertaken. This meant risks to people's health and safety were reduced.

Communication within the service was good. Relatives were kept informed of their family member’s health and welfare throughout the last nine months when they were unable to visit the service due to the pandemic.

People received their medicines on time and when they needed them. They had access to professional health care workers when needed, which helped to maintain their wellbeing.

Staff were patient, kind and respectful towards people. Care was person-centred and staff had time to chat with people during the day.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 2 November 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about infection control and people’s capacity to make their own choices and decisions. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating 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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Arden House Residential Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.