Manor Barn Nursing Home

Updated 7 April 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector and a nurse specialist advisor.

Service and service type

Manor Barn Nursing 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, nurses, senior carers, carers, the chef, a member of the activity team and the compliance and training manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included elements of 13 people's care records and seven medication records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at training records and minutes of resident, relative and staff meetings. We spoke with a further two relatives and a friend of a person who lived at the service.

Updated 7 April 2020

About the service

Manor Barn Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 31 older people with various support needs, including physical and sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection, 25 people were in residence. The home consists of one adapted building. There are a range of communal areas, including a garden for people to enjoy.

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

People spoke highly of the care they received and from our observations it was clear they enjoyed a good rapport and close relationship with the staff supporting them.

Since our last visit, there had been improvements in managing risks to people and equipment, ensuring people’s choices were respected and in the provision of one to one activity. Staff were well informed about risks to people's health or wellbeing and knew how to deliver their care safely. Staffing levels met people's needs. The home was clean, and staff had been trained in infection prevention and control. Lessons were learned if things went wrong.

We identified an issue with topical creams, but this was quickly addressed and a new audit was put in place to ensure creams were dated on opening and remained in date.

Care was personalised to meet people's needs. Strong relationships were formed between staff and people due to the continuity of staffing and the very caring approach of staff members. Care plans provided detailed information and guidance for staff on people's care and support needs, their likes and dislikes, and how they wished to receive personal care. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions relating to their care and were treated with dignity and respect.

Staff felt supported and had confidence their views and opinions were valued. They had regular training, supervisions and an annual appraisal. People were enthusiastic about the food and were able to make suggestions for the menu. Snacks and drinks were readily available throughout the day. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals and support. Premises were suitable and comfortable and met people's needs.

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.

People's communication needs were identified and planned for. People expressed confidence they could raise any issues or concerns with any member of staff or the management team and these would be addressed.

Staff were skilled in supporting people at the end of their lives. They took time to understand the person’s wishes and worked to facilitate these. Relatives spoke highly of the care their loved ones had received.

There was strong and effective leadership and everyone we spoke with said they would recommend the home. The service was well organised and had a range of systems in place to ensure its smooth operation and to support good communication.

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 17 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.