Anning House

Updated 22 March 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

This inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors, 1 being a pharmacy inspector.

Service and service type

Anning House 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. [Care home name] is a care home [with/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. 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

At the beginning of the inspection we asked the registered manager to display our poster asking staff and relatives to share their views.

We met most people who lived at the service and spoke with 11 of them about their experience of the care provided. Some people were unable to share their experience verbally, so we spent time observing the delivery of care and support. We also spoke with 4 relatives or friends visiting the service.

We spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager, a provider representative, care and activity staff and ancillary staff, including the chef, the maintenance person, and the administrator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and a selection of medicine records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, along with a selection of agency staff records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including fire safety, maintenance records, staff rotas, minutes of staff meetings and audits were also viewed.

Following the site visits, we received feedback from 3 relatives. We requested feedback from eight professionals and received a response from 4 professionals who had worked with the service.

Updated 22 March 2023

About the service

Anning House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 70 people. The service is arranged over three floors and specialises in the care of older people including people who are living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 57 people living at the service.

This care home is run by two companies: Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd and WT UK Opco 4. These two companies have a dual registration and are jointly responsible for the services at the home.

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

The registered manager and provider had identified that record keeping was an area for improvement. They were taking immediate action to address shortfalls. We have made a recommendation for the provider to continue to develop accurate and up to date records (care plans) to ensure people continue to receive the care they need in a way they prefer.

People felt safe at the service and relatives and professional expressed their confidence in the staff team. Comments included, “It is fantastic here… the staff are excellent”, “You couldn’t wish for more…the staff are super” and “It is a comfort for us to know my (loved one) is safe and well cared for”

Staff were clear about how to safeguard people from avoidable harm and safeguarding concerns were referred appropriately and investigated. People received their medicines safely. Infection control processes protected people from the risk of infection. Accident and incidents were managed safely. The registered manager had oversight of accidents and incidents and used this information to drive service improvements.

The registered manager ensured sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to meet people’s needs and provide appropriate care and support. There was on-going recruitment to fill some staff vacancies. Regular agency staff were used to cover staff absences and vacancies. Safe recruitment practices were followed, and staff were suitably trained and supported to enable them to understand and meet people’s needs. Refresher training for staff was being organised.

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’s health and wellbeing was monitored, and people benefitted from the good working relationships established with health and social care professionals. People were given the support they required to meet their nutritional needs. People were positive about the food provided. They received a varied and balanced diet in line with their personal choices.

People were supported in a respectful and dignified way, their privacy was respected and their independence was promoted.

Meaningful activities and events were provided for people to take part in and they were supported to maintain relationships with the people that mattered to them. Visitors said they always received a warm welcome. People felt safe to raise any concerns or complaints with the registered manager.

The provider and registered manager monitored the quality and safety of the service and identified areas which could be improved.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection of a new provider. A new provider registered with us since the last comprehensive inspection of this location. This is the first comprehensive inspection under the new registered provider. A focused inspection was completed on 06 May 2022 and rated safe and well led as good.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider at the premises was good, published on 12 December 2019.

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.

Recommendations

We have recommended the provider continue to develop accurate and up to date records (care plans) to ensure people continue to receive the care they need in a way they prefer.

Follow up

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