Partridge House Nursing and Residential Care Home

Updated 25 January 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 undertaken by one inspector, an assistant inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Partridge House Nursing and Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Partridge House Nursing and Residential Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with people, relatives and staff and gathered information relating to the management of the service. We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 care plans. We spoke with 8 people using the service and 1 visitor. We also spoke with 14 members of staff, including 2 regional managers, the registered manager, deputy manager, 2 registered nurses, the chef, 4 care staff, 2 ancillary staff, the activities co-ordinator and an administrator. Some people living at the service were not able to fully verbalise their views with us. Due to people's needs, we spent time observing people with staff supporting them.

Updated 25 January 2023

About the service

Partridge House Nursing and Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing nursing care and support for up to 38 people. People were living with a range of needs associated with the frailties of old age and some people were living with dementia or other mental health needs. 36 people were living at the service on the day of our inspection.

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

We saw the required improvements had been made since the last inspection in respect to the deployment of staff, the design and adaptation of the premises, treating people with dignity and respect, the provision of meaningful activities and person centred care and culture and staff morale. The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. However, we were unable at this inspection to determine whether the current service provision could be sustained over time. Many of the systems and processes put in place to improve the service have not yet been fully embedded and assessed to ensure they maintain continuous improvement. The service would need to demonstrate appropriate systems and processes and care delivery over a period, to ensure the sustainability of good care could be achieved for people. We also identified an area of practice that needs improvement in relation to the provision of activities for people who chose to stay in their rooms.

People told us they felt safe and they received care that met their needs. It was clear from the feedback we received from people, relatives and staff that significant improvements had been made by the provider since the last inspection. A relative told us, “Things had really slipped in this home, but they’re definitely going in the right direction now.” A member of staff added, “The home is so much better now. A lot of work had gone in from all of us and the managers. The residents are getting good care and I enjoy working here.”

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 and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 22 June 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.

This service has been in Special Measures since 22 June 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Responsive and Well Led sections of this full report.

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.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.