Castle Park

Updated 20 May 2023

Inspection team

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 carried out by 2 inspectors and an expert by experience. This is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience contacted relatives by telephone and did not attend the care home.

Service and service type

Castle Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and we looked at both during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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. 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.

During the inspection

Inspection activity started on 26 April 2023 and ended on 2 May 2023. We visited the home on 26 April 2023.

We spoke with 5 people who used the service and the relatives of 11 people. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager who was also a nurse, 2 care assistants, the chef, and a member of housekeeping. We completed observations of communal areas. We reviewed a range of records including 5 people's care records, food and fluid charts and other monitoring records. We also reviewed medication administration records and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 20 May 2023

About the service

Castle Park is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to people aged 65 and over. The service can support up to 40 people. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people using the service.

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

People were protected from the risk of harm as assessments were undertaken and followed. Staff knew the procedure to follow to report concerns. People were supported safely by staff as records were up to date and completed. This meant staff had guidance to support people safely. The home was cleaned to a good standard and well maintained and free from environmental risks. Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff were recruited safely, and there was enough staff deployed at the service.

People were supported by staff that were trained to carry out their roles. People were supported to eat and drink. Where people were at risk of malnutrition and dehydration this was monitored, and referrals made to the relevant healthcare professionals. People were supported to access health care services. 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, relatives, and staff were encouraged to feedback into the running of the service. The provider and registered manager worked alongside partner agencies to enhance the support provided to people. In response to partner agency concerns, improvements required in the governance and oversight of the home had been acted on. Lessons had been learned when things went wrong. This improved people’s outcomes.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found 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 28 January 2020).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the management oversight, the staffing levels and the infection control and hygiene standards at the home and the lack of capacity assessments. 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 following this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm as the provider had taken the required action to ensure practices were improved. 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 Castle Park 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.

Follow up

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