Barn Park Residential Home

Updated 2 January 2024

Barn Park Residential Home is a care home without nursing. The service provides support to older people, people living with dementia and people requiring reablement. The assessment was triggered by people contacting CQC to raise concerns regarding staffing, records, and poor practice. Our visit was unannounced and took place on 11 and 17 January 2024. We looked at 14 quality statements; Safeguarding; Involving people to manage risks; Safe environments; Safe and effective staffing; Infection prevention and control; Medicines optimisation; Consent to care and Treatment; Supporting people to live healthier lives; Kindness, compassion and dignity; Treating People as Individuals; Equity in experiences and outcomes; Capable compassionate and inclusive leaders; Governance and assurance and Freedom to speak up. An Expert by Experience spoke with 9 relatives as part of our assessment on 24 January 2024 to gain their feedback on the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. We also used the Short Observational Framework for assessment (SOFI) during our visit. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who were not able to comment specifically on the service. Fifteen staff gave feedback either during the assessment or through e-mail. On the first and second day of assessment, we sent an e-mail to the manager and the provider detailing our most significant concerns and requested evidence of action being taken to address them. We served a warning notice on 7 February 2024 which gave a timescale to address breaches of regulations linked to safeguarding, safe care and treatment and good governance. The provider did not make representations against the warning notice.

Updated 2 January 2024

Some people were aware there had been concerns with their relative’s interactions with others, but felt staff handled situations well between people living with dementia. Relatives told us there was good security and the risk of falls was well managed. Two people expressed satisfaction with their rooms. Relatives gave mixed feedback on the appearance of the home; some described the service as homely, but others said the home should be updated. People looked at ease with staff. Visitors were positive about the staff group and how they interacted with their relatives. Visitors said the cleanliness was generally good, including people’s bedrooms. They were reassured by staff contacting health professionals to support their relative’s health needs. Relatives gave mixed feedback on how people’s consent was sought before carrying out a care task. Staff were caring but their interactions with people were often task oriented, for example serving drinks. Staff did not regularly spend time with people, for example in conversation. Relatives’ feedback on their involvement in people’s care plan was variable. Most said they had not seen anything written down. People were unsure how their relatives spent their time and whether there they were kept stimulated and interested. However, they were positive about the events which did take place and the kindness and compassion shown by staff towards their relatives.