Southbourne Care Home

Updated 18 February 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

One inspector inspected this service.

Southbourne Care home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Southbourne Care Home is a care home without 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.

A registered manager was working at the service.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care records and 4 medicines records. We looked at 3 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.

Updated 18 February 2023

About the service

Southbourne Care Home is a care home without nursing registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 27 people. People living at the service are mostly older people, some of whom may be living with dementia or a mental health illness. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people using the service.

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

People told us they were happy with the care they received, and people said they felt safe living there. Comments from people included; “I am safe and staff help me” and “I can talk to (named registered manager).” While a relative said; “I’m happy with everything and I know (named relative) is safe here.” People looked relaxed, happy and comfortable with staff supporting them. Staff were caring and spent time chatting with people as they moved around the service.

The environment was safe and there was equipment available which protected people from harm and supported staff. Health and safety checks of the environment and equipment were in place.

People were supported to access healthcare services, staff recognised changes in people's health, and sought professional advice appropriately. Medicines were ordered, stored and disposed of safely.

People were protected from abuse and neglect. People's care plans and risk assessments were clear. Records were accessible and up to date. The service used a computerised care planning system. The management and staff knew people well and worked together to help ensure people received a good service.

People were supported by staff who completed an induction, received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. This included fire safety and dementia care training. Staff were recruited safely in sufficient numbers to ensure people’s needs were met. There was time for people to have social interaction and staff carried out activities to assist people. Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm.

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 where they wanted, people had end of life wishes explored and recorded.

Staff told us the registered manager was available, assisted them daily and helped cover shifts when some staff had been absent with COVID-19. They went onto say how the registered manager was approachable and listened when any concerns or ideas were raised. One staff member said; “Very supportive team” and another “(named registered manager) has an open-door policy and we can talk to them at any time and about anything.” One relative said; “They (the registered manager) will sort things straight away if I ask anything.”

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 good (published 24 October 2019).

Why we inspected

We were prompted to carry out this inspection due to concerns we received about the service, staffing and management.

A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has not changed and remains good. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe, Effective 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 Southbourne Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

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 see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.