Penmeneth House

Updated 31 August 2022

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 Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Penmeneth House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and we looked at both during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. At the time of our inspection there was a manager in post who intended to apply to become registered with CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with ten people who used the service and three relatives, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff, the training and development manager, the new manager and two of the providers directors. We also spoke with a visiting healthcare professional about the service’s performance.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and four people’s medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, and staff supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 31 August 2022

About the service

Penmeneth House is a residential care home. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 15 predominantly older people. The service does not provide nursing care. Nursing services are provided by the community nursing team. At the time of the inspection there were 15 people living at the service.

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

People told us they felt safe and were happy with the care they received at Penmeneth House. Comments from people and their relatives included,"The staff are very good people” and “All the staff are lovely and kind”.

People were comfortable in the service and staff provided support at a relaxed pace. During the afternoon of the inspection staff spent time playing games and chatting with people in the communal lounge.

We were somewhat assured that people were protected from infection controls risks. Recent changes to national guidance on the use of masks in care home had been misunderstood. When raised with managers this issue was immediately addressed and mask wearing reintroduced. We have recommended the service ensures all changed to guidance are fully understood before implementation in the service.

People had choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. We have made a recommendation in relation to recording details of DoLS applications made.

Staff were recruited safely and understood their role in ensuring people were protected from harm. There were sufficient staff available to meet people’s support needs. People told us staff responded promptly to request for assistance and call bells were within reach of everyone the service supported.

Medicines were managed safely and risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been identified assessed and mitigated. Were incident or accident occurred reviews had been completed to identify areas of learning or possible improvement.

Staff had the skills necessary to meet people’s needs and referrals for support from healthcare professionals had been made promptly and appropriately.

The service used a digital care planning and recording system which provided staff with clear guidance on how to meet people’s needs. Daily care records had been accurately maintained and information about people communication needs and preferences was available to all staff.

People were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them and encouraged to participate in a range of activities within the service. There was a part time activities coordinator based in the service three days per week and a vehicle available to enable people to access the community or visit places of interest.

Complaints had been appropriately resolved and there were systems in place to ensure people’s needs were met at the end of their lives.

The staff team were well motivated and enjoyed spending time with the people. Current leadership arrangements were appropriate, and the new manager was well supported by the provider’s directors. Relatives told us, “I think it is a well-run, happy home”.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (Published 6 December 2019.) At this inspection the rating has improved to good.

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. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Follow up

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

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