Polonia Residential Home

Updated 4 May 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 1 inspector who was accompanied on the visit by an interpreter who spoke Polish. We used an interpreter because the majority of people living at the service spoke Polish as their first language.

Service and service type

Polonia Residential Home is a 'care home' that provides care and accommodation to older people, some of whom live with dementia. 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.

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 was on annual leave when we inspected.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 6 April 2023 and ended on 14 April 2023. We visited the service on 6 April 2023.

What we did before the inspection

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 reviewed feedback we had received about the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We met with the deputy manager, spoke with 2 care workers. We looked at written records, which included 2 people's care records and 1 staff file. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 4 May 2023

About the service

Polonia Residential Home is a 'care home'. The service can support up to 9 people aged 65 and over and mainly from eastern European backgrounds living with dementia. On the day of the inspection 8 people were living at the service

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

People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and knew where to report them if they had concerns.

Risk assessments were in place for people and their specific health needs. Staff were able to tell us about individual risks and how to manage them. Environmental risks were well managed in order to keep people safe. Infection control was well managed, the home was clean and free from odour. Policies in place protected people and visitors.

There were enough staff available to make sure people received the personal care and support that they needed. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs.

Since our last inspection we found the provider has completed a full-service review of their training resources provided to staff. This meant inexperienced or new staff were provided with the care certificate during their induction. Staff had regular support through supervisions.

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 provider's quality assurance processes had improved and were effective in driving improvements across the service. This was evident in the premises; fire safety and training ensure people received a safe service.

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 7 July 2021) and there was breach of regulation 17. 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 regulation 17.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 6 April 2023. We undertook this focused inspection to check the service had followed their action plan and to confirm improvements were made.

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.

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 changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective and well-led.

Follow up

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