Background to this inspection
Updated
4 July 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 one inspector.
Service and service type
The Crescent 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 Crescent is a care home without 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 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 who used the service, 1 relative and 2 professionals about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff, the registered manager, administrative assistant and the registered manager from the provider's sister service. We had a walk around the home to make sure it was safe and met people’s needs. We reviewed a range of records. This included people's care records, medication records, staff files, the training matrix and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
Updated
4 July 2023
About the service
The Crescent Residential Care Home (The Crescent) is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 15 people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people living at The Crescent. The service was based in an older building close to nearby shops and local facilities. The premises were not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Regular checks were made of the environment to help ensure it was safe for people to live in and any risks were mitigated. On the day of the inspection fire doors had been wedged open by a resident to improve ventilation. We have made a recommendation about this in the report.
There were normally enough staff to support people and respond to their needs. At certain times of the week staffing levels were lower and we have made a recommendation about this in the report.
Staff had received training to keep people safe and knew what action to take in response to any allegations of abuse. There were no restrictions on family and friends visiting.
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.
People were encouraged to be independent and grow their confidence in social interactions and developing independent living skills.
Medicines were stored and administered safely. When people had medicines for use as required there were protocols in place to help ensure staff were consistent in how these were administered.
The service was led by a registered manager who was described as approachable, supportive and caring. The culture at the home was open and inclusive. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. The provider acted upon suggestions or ideas that were made to drive improvement in the 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 31 December 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 made recommendations about the management of specific medical risks, storage and recording of drugs which require stricter controls and checks to minimise risk when entries on medicine records were handwritten. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 December 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve the governance of the service.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those requirements.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Crescent Residential Care Home 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.