Flixton Manor

Updated 15 February 2024

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

This inspection was carried out by 4 inspectors and 1 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

Flixton Manor 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. Flixton Manor 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for 3 months and had submitted an application to register. We are currently assessing this application.

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 received regular feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke to 10 members of staff, including the owner, the manager, the deputy manager, the chef, 2 nurse’s and 4 care staff. We reviewed a range of records, including 11 people's care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance were reviewed.

Updated 15 February 2024

About the service

Flixton Manor is a nursing home providing accommodation and personal care to older adults, including people living with dementia. Flixton Manor accommodates up to 38 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection, there were 35 people living at the home.

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

People and their relatives were positive about the care provided at Flixton Manor. The staff reported a significant improvement in the leadership of the home since the new manager had started. The provider had responded positively and worked in partnership with Trafford Council to respond to all the concerns raised prior to the inspection.

We identified shortfalls in the management of medicines. Immediate measures were taken during the inspection to address these issues to ensure safe care was provided. Staff understood how to safeguard people and when to raise concerns. Recruitment practices were safe. Risks associated with people’s care were assessed and monitored. Staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection.

Staff were responsive to people’s needs and people and their relatives were happy with the standard of care provided. Staff were kind and caring and people were treated with dignity and respect. People were supported to access relevant health and social care support and people had access to a range of activities to meet their needs.

Plans were in place to ensure all staff training and supervisions were up to date. People were happy with the quality of the food and plans had started to refurbish the home.

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.

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 good (published 13 August 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received from Trafford Council on 4 October where a formal notice to suspend all placements was issued to Flixton Manor. This was removed on 4 November as the home had demonstrated positive improvements in response to the concerns raised. CQC also received concerns from a whistle-blower in October about poor care. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to medicines at this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.