Archived: Corbrook Park

Updated 3 February 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check on a specific concern we had about staffing levels and the safe management of risk.

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Corbrook Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. There was a manager in post who had started the process to register with CQC.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short notice period of the inspection because of the risks associated with Covid-19. This meant that we could discuss how to ensure everyone remained safe during the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We gathered feedback from the local authority who commission some people's care at the service. We used this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic we were mindful about the amount of time the inspector was on site. This was to reduce the risk of transmitting any infection. We therefore asked the manager to send some records for us to review and gathered some feedback via telephone.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and contacted a further three relatives over the telephone, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the manager, head of operations, nurses, care workers and domestic staff. We made observations of the care provided.

We reviewed a range of records both onsite and remotely, including records relating to staffing, the management of risk, policies and procedures, audits and accident and incident records. We reviewed a sample of seven people’s care records.

After the inspection

We carried out telephone interviews with a further six staff, including kitchen and night staff. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 3 February 2021

The inspection took place on 25 and 26 January 2018. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. This meant that the provider and staff did not know we were coming. We last inspected the service in December 2016 and at that time identified breaches in three of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The breaches were related to safeguarding, consent to care and good governance.

We took action by requesting the provider send us an action plan stating how and when they would achieve compliance. During this inspection we found there had been improvements made in line with the provider's action plan. As a consequence of these improvements the service was no longer in breach of the regulations detailed above.

Corbrook Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Corbrook Park accommodates up to 80 people across two separate units, each of which have separate adapted facilities. One of the units specialises in providing care to people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 68 people receiving a service.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found improvements had been made and where necessary any safeguarding concerns had been identified and reported to the local authority. Policies and procedures were in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff we spoken with had received safeguarding training and were able to tell us of the different types of abuse that someone could encounter. They told us how they would report any poor practice or abuse to the registered manager.

People felt safe and told us that they received the support that they needed, in a way that respected their wishes. We found sufficient staff to meet people’s needs in a timely way. We were informed that if short staffed, agency staff could be used. The organisation also had a pool team of staff from across a number of locations to provide cover if necessary. The registered manager had recently recruited a number of new staff.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff who administered medicines had completed training and we saw that competency assessments were carried out to ensure staff remained safe to administer medicines.

We saw that mental capacity assessments were being undertaken and these were decision specific. We found that improvements had been made to the process followed when administering medication on a covert basis (when food is hidden in food or drink). In the care files reviewed, we found that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 had been followed correctly.

People were positive about the food available at Corbrook Park and we found that people’s nutritional needs were met effectively.

We found that staff were skilled, knowledgeable and well trained. They received an induction when they began their employment at the service and received on-going training updates. However, whilst some staff had received supervision this had not occurred as frequently as required by the organisation.

We saw that people were well cared for and comfortable at the service. The people and visitors who we spoke with were very complimentary about the care that they received and told us that the staff were kind and caring. We observed that staff were skilled and patient, treating people with dignity and respect. People were able to make choices about the way that they were supported.

People told us they received care that was tailored to meet their individual needs. Care plans contained personalised information to help staff support people as individuals in a way that suited them best. They were person centred in many aspects, although limited in regards to people’s social occupation, well-being and activities they may like to take part in. Yearly reviews needed to be undertaken for some people and the registered manager planned to ensure that these were completed as soon as possible.

There was a complaints policy and procedure in place. We reviewed any complaints received by the care home and saw that a number of complaints that had been made in the past 12 months. These had been dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.

People were enabled to take part in person-centred activities and encouraged to maintain hobbies and interests.

We found that the home was well-led. People knew who the registered manager was and felt able to raise any concerns with him. The registered manager was well supported by a deputy manager. Staff told us that they felt well supported. We saw that regular team meetings were held and staff communicated well. There were quality assurance processes in place and people's feedback was sought about the quality of the care.