The Poplars Nursing Home

Updated 22 June 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors, an assistant inspector, an Expert by Experience and a specialist advisor. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The specialist professional advisor was a qualified nurse.

Service and service type

The Poplars Nursing Home 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 not a registered manager in post. There was a manager in place who was managing the day to day running of the service and during the inspection we were advised they had applied to become the registered manager.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people using the service and 8 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff, including the manager, the nominated individual, carers, nurses, and the chef. We reviewed a range of records, this included 5 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 22 June 2023

About the service

The Poplars Nursing Home is a care home providing personal care to up to 58 people. The service provides support to older and younger people. At the time of our inspection there were 47 people using the service.

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

Care records required improvements to ensure all information and guidelines are accessible to staff when delivering care and support to people. The provider was not consistently working in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act which put people at risk of being deprived of their liberty without lawful authority. The home’s physical environment required some improvements. The provider had already identified this, and the home was undergoing refurbishments. Some people’s bedrooms required work to improve the appearance and provide a homely environment.

Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report concerns. There were systems in place to record and investigate incidents and accidents. This included lessons learnt to mitigate incidents reoccurring. Staff were recruited safely.

Medications were managed and administered safely. Staff had received medication training and their competency to support people with their medicines had been checked.

People’s needs were regularly assessed to ensure they were receiving the right care and support. People were supported people to eat and drink safely and in line with their dietary requirements. Staff worked with external professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to people’s care.

People were supported by staff who treated them with kindness and respect. Staff ensured they upheld people’s dignity. People were encouraged to express their views and be involved in decisions around their care. People were offered choices and supported to maintain their independence.

People’s care records were person centred and captured people’s protected characteristics. Staff knew people well, and knew their routines, likes and dislikes. Staff communicated effectively with people to meet their communication needs. People were supported to maintain relationships with their loved ones and take part in activities which were socially and culturally relevant to them. Staff received training in end of life care and knew how to support people.

The manager had taken steps to improve the quality of care in the service since the last inspection. The manager engaged with people using the service, through feedback forms and meetings. Staff took pride in their roles. The manager understood their responsibility towards duty of candour.

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.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

At our last inspection we found breaches of the regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, notifications of other incidents, dignity and respect and good governance. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to tell us what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection, we found the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations. However, we identified a breach of regulation in relation to safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment.

Why we inspected

We carried out this inspection to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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.

Enforcement

We have found a breach in relation to safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of the full version of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.