Barton House

Updated 9 June 2021

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

The inspection was completed by one 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

Barton House 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 and, sought feedback from the local authority. We used this information to plan our inspection.

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.

During the inspection

We spoke on the telephone, with seven people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, senior care worker and, two care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and each person’s medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification of evidence and further supporting evidence from the registered manger. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We sought written feedback from staff and received five replies. Three professionals sent feedback about the service.

Updated 9 June 2021

About the service

Barton House was a residential care home providing personal care to 14 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 15 people.

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

Following the last inspection, a new quality assurance system had been introduced by the provider and registered manager with the support of other professionals. During this inspection, we found aspects of this new process still needed to be fully embedded as issues we noted with people’s records and training shortfalls had not been identified. The registered manager took prompt action when informed of our findings.

We found people’s medicines were administered safely however, there were aspects of the management of medicines that we needed to be assured about during our time on site. These were addressed or were in process of being addressed. For example, ensuring the details of how and when all ‘as required’ medicines should be given by staff.

The service had not experienced Covid 19 and the home was clean. We found that the infection control of the service was mostly good. How professionals and new people were admitted to the service needed to improve and was addressed while we were on site. Since the last inspection the laundry had been refitted and there was constant cleaning to ensure touch points were cleaned.

Staff demonstrated they knew people well and, a close working relationship with the GP, district nurse and other health professionals meant any changes were reviewed quickly.

People described being happy, safe and well looked after by the staff. Good communication had been maintained despite the challenges faced by the pandemic. Visiting was taking place in line with current government guidance.

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 felt part of the service and able to suggest changes and new ideas on how the service was run or how their care was provided. Staff spoke about being valued by the registered manager and provider.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 18 March 2020).

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 6 February 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan to show what they would do and by when they would improve the issues identified. These were in respect of people’s ability to consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding people, staff training and supervision and, how the service was being governed. The registered manager and provider had also not ensured they told us about safeguarding concerns and when people had died as required.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, effective and well-led which contained those requirements.

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.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained as Requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

On this inspection, we have identified a repeated breach of regulation in respect of good governance. All other breaches from the last inspection had been addressed and the changes maintained.

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

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will ask the provider for an action plan and, continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner