Archived: The Sycamores and The Poplars

Updated 15 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

The inspection team consisted of an inspector, a specialist nurse advisor, 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

The Sycamores and The Poplars 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. The Sycamores and The Poplars 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 the registered manager had recently left their post. The day to day management of the service was therefore being provided by the deputy manager and the provider’s regional support manager. The regional support manager told us they intended to apply to CQC to become the registered manager for The Sycamores and The Poplars care home.

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

We spoke with 7 people and observed staff interactions with the people who lived in the care home. Where people were not able to communicate verbally, we also observed their body language during staff interactions, to further help us understand their experience of the care they received.

We spoke with 10 members of staff including care staff, senior carers, catering staff, maintenance person, deputy manager, registered nurse, regional support manager and regional manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records and a sample of medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to pre-employment checks carried out by the provider.

We obtained clarification from the provider to further validate evidence found. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback from 6 relatives of people who lived at the care home. We also received feedback, by phone or email, from 7 staff.

Updated 15 February 2023

About the service

The Sycamores and The Poplars is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 72 people. The service provides support to people over 18 years of age, older adults, and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people using the service.

The care home premises consist of 2 buildings; The Sycamores and The Poplars. At the time of the inspection only The Sycamores was being used by the provider as a place for people to live. The provider’s regional manager told us that The Poplars was closed and would not be used for people to live in until refurbishment work had been completed. Although people were being supported in The Sycamores building, the provider’s laundry and kitchen facilities were in the adjacent Poplars building.

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

People told us they felt safe living in the care home. The provider’s policies and procedures, and the training received by staff, helped keep people safe from potential abuse. The Sycamores living environment was well maintained, which helped reduce risks to people. People were supported by staff who understood their care needs. Staff referred to people’s comprehensive care plans and risk assessments for guidance when necessary.

The provider used a lot of agency nurses, but aimed to use the same ones where possible, so they understood people’s care needs. Staff were safely recruited and their appropriateness to work in care properly assessed. Staffing levels were based on an assessment of the care needs of the people who lived at the care home, and was adequate to meet the needs of the 27 people living in the care home at the time of the inspection.

People’s prescribed medicines were safely managed and the provider’s infection prevention and control measures were appropriate. The Sycamores was well decorated, clean, and hygienic. People received health care support within the care home, and were also supported to access local primary health care services and specialist health care services when needed.

People told us the meals were nice and we saw that some people had been supported to regain an interest in food again, and gain some weight, as part of their assessed care needs. Mealtimes were relaxed and sociable occasions and people had a choice of menu items at each meal. Some people’s health was seen to have improved since they had moved into the care home. People were supported by staff who had received the necessary training to meet people’s care needs.

Staff had a kind and considerate approach to people. The care home had a busy but happy atmosphere. People’s privacy and dignity was protected when personal care tasks were being carried out, and people were supported to remain independent by doing as much for themselves as they were able.

People were supported to engage in a range of individual and group activities within the care home if they chose to. Families told us they found the manager and staff easy to contact and willing to listen to them if they had any concerns. Complaints and concerns were investigated appropriately and responded to by the manager.

Staff told us they felt supported by the manager and the provider. The manager and staff all understood their roles and how to ensure the service met the regulatory requirements. The provider had a comprehensive quality assessment system in place which helped to keep track of the quality of the service they provided, and to take any necessary action to improve things.

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.

The care home had improved since the previous inspection and feedback from people, relatives, and external professionals reflected that.

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 Requires Improvement (published 14 November 2019). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider consider current legislation on safe storage and management of medicines to ensure safe practices. We also recommended that the provider considered current guidance on providing a dementia friendly environment for people who were living with dementia at the service. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on the recommendations and had made improvements.

Why we inspected

We inspected to follow up on the breaches identified in the previously rated inspection. The inspection was also prompted by a review of the information we held about the service, and feedback received from the local authority adult social services team which indicated the service had improved.

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.