Blossom Fields

Updated 23 June 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 carried out by 2 inspectors 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

Blossom Fields 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. Blossom Fields 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 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

We spoke with 8 people who lived at the service about their experience of the care provided and spent time with others observing interactions with staff. We spoke with 4 relatives to seek their views on how the service care for their loved one.

We spoke with 10 members of staff, the registered manager, and the deputy manager. After the inspection we received emails from 4 staff sharing their experience of working for the service. We received feedback from 5 health and social care professionals about their experience of the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records, daily records, and medication records. We looked at the records relating to Deprivation of Liberty for people that had this in place. We looked at the recruitment records for 3 newly appointed members of staff. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including training data, recruitment documentation, duty rotas and quality assurance records were looked at.

After the inspection we contacted the nominated individual to clarify how they continually monitor the service from a provider perspective. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 23 June 2023

About the service

Blossom Fields is a care home with nursing for up to 43 predominately older people. People have either general nursing care needs or are living with dementia. The service has three units over three floors with a 16-bedded dementia care unit being on the middle floor. At the time of this inspection there were 40 people in residence.

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

At the last inspection we found the service provided an outstanding model of care and support. Since the last inspection there had been a change of management with a new provider taking over the legal entity of Grove Care. The new provider was embedding their systems in respect of quality monitoring and staff training. We did not find the service was outstanding at this inspection. However, there was a commitment to provide care that was person centred where people were at the forefront.

Most people and their relatives spoke positively about the service they were receiving. They told us there was enough staff and staff were kind, caring and responsive to their needs. Two people raised concerns about the care they had recently received. The management team were proactive in addressing the concerns during the inspection with an apology given. In response staffing at night was increased to ensure there was two staff on each floor of the home.

People were kept safe because risks were assessed and mitigated. Medicines were managed safely. Safe recruitment was undertaken to ensure people were protected. Staff knew what to do if they were concerned about a person’s welfare including any allegations of abuse.

People were supported with meaningful activities based on their interests. There was a programme of activities that included people being supported in the local community, group and one to one activity along with external entertainers. The local church supported the home with monthly services. Relatives and visitors were welcomed to the home.

People received enough to eat and drink. People at risk of malnutrition were given the support to ensure they had a good level of nutritional intake. People had access to other health professionals and referrals to other agencies were made when needed. Feedback from professionals was positive about how the management and staff engaged with them and the people they supported.

Staff had received training suitable to their roles. This was being updated with staff completing the new provider’s online training. Effective infection control measures were in place.

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.

Blossom Fields provided a comfortable and a homely atmosphere for people. The home was clean and free from odour. Plans were in place to refurbish some areas of the home such as furniture in bedrooms.

People and relatives were involved with regular meetings being held with them. This was an opportunity to seek their views about the service along with their individual care reviews. The new provider had yet to send people, relatives, and staff a survey that they could use to make any necessary improvements.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and drive improvements. Staff described a team, that worked together to deliver care that was person centred. There was an open, transparent, and positive culture and people, their relatives, staff, and professionals told us the management team were approachable.

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 outstanding (published 3 January 2019). The rating at this inspection had changed to good.

Why we inspected

We undertook this comprehensive inspection due to the length of time since the last inspection.

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 overall rating for the service has changed from outstanding to good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Blossom Fields 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.