Archived: The Croft Care Home

Updated 11 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 12 November 2020 and was announced. It was announced because the home had an outbreak of Covid-19 and checks were made at the service before inspection to ensure it was safe to proceed.

Updated 11 December 2020

We carried out a comprehensive inspection at The Croft Care Home (referred to throughout the report as The Croft) on 9 and 10 April 2018. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. The service was last inspected in February 2017 when it was rated Requires improvement. This was because a breach of regulations was identified. This was in relation to the lack of robust recruitment processes. Recommendations were also made in relation to risk assessments, person centred approaches and governance systems.

Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of safe, responsive and well-led to at least good. This inspection was carried out to check the required improvements had been made.

The Croft 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 home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to a maximum of 26 people. At time of the inspection there were 23 people accommodated in the home.

The service was managed by a registered manager. 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. The registered manager was supported in the day to day running of the home by a deputy manager.

People told us they felt safe in The Croft. Our observations showed people were treated with kindness, care and respect. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. There were appropriate arrangements in place in relation to the safe handling of medicines. New staff were recruited safely.

Risks to people's health, welfare and safety were managed well. The service was safe, clean, well maintained and suited to the needs of the people who lived there. People enjoyed a varied and healthy diet and changes in their health were monitored and acted on. People had access to a GP and other health care professionals when they needed them.

Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people's individual needs effectively. New staff completed an induction when they started work at the home; this was to ensure they were familiar with the routines and people’s individual needs. Staff spoken with told us they received appropriate support and training and felt valued and respected by managers in the service.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Care records we reviewed were personalised and provided a good level of detail for staff to follow. The initial assessment, completed before people were admitted to the Croft, was used to formulate care plans and risk assessments; these records had been regularly reviewed and updated when people’s needs changed.

People’s communication needs were documented within care plans as well as how staff should support them to express their views and wishes. Staff spoken with demonstrated a good understanding of people’s diverse needs and preferences.

People who lived in The Croft and their relatives knew about the home’s complaint’s procedure. All said they were confident any complaints would be fully investigated and action taken if necessary to rectify matters.

The registered manager and provider conducted regular checks to make sure people were receiving appropriate care and support. The registered manager took into account the views of people using the service, their relatives and staff through meetings and surveys. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home and that the registered manager set high standards in relation to the care they were expected to deliver.