Background to this inspection
Updated
19 May 2020
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Springfield Care Home 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 service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. The provider was asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. However, whilst the provider information return was submitted by the provider shortly before the inspection, the inspection team did not receive it until after the inspection had taken place.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, a senior care worker, a care worker and the cook.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including policies and procedures.
Updated
19 May 2020
About the service
Springfield Care Home is a residential care home, in a purpose-built building, providing personal care to up to 40 people aged 65 and over. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was not always safe. People were not protected from infection because infection prevention and control measures were not effective.
The environment was poorly maintained and was unclean. Much of the décor and furnishings were old and some items were in a state of disrepair and needed replacing. The provider had commenced a programme of redecoration and refurbishment in both private and communal areas. However, the general cleanliness of the building should be maintained during the refurbishment.
Medicines were not always safely managed. As a result, one person had not received their medicines as prescribed and protocols were not in place for “when required” medication. The audit systems in place to monitor the administration of medicines were not sufficiently robust.
Whilst it was evident that the provider had quality control systems in place, we observed that they did not always result in good care and support, and were therefore not always effective.
There was not always enough staffing to meet people’s needs. People told us that they do not do as many activities as they used to. Also, we observed difficulties with supporting all people appropriately during lunchtime as the available staff were deployed over two floors.
People’s individual risks were managed in a safe way and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of harm and abuse. Risk assessments were completed appropriately, for example around nutrition, pressure sores and mobility.
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 at Springfield Care Home supported this practice.
Care records were person centred and contained sufficient information about people’s preferences, specific routines, their life history and interests.
Improvements were required to end of life care planning to meet best practice guidance such as that provided by the Gold Standards Framework.
Staff and the management team were kind, caring and compassionate. People told us that the staff were kind to them and this was confirmed during our observations.
People were supported to maintain a healthy diet by a staff team which knew their individual preferences. People had options regarding their meals and alternatives were provided if required.
People and their representatives were involved in the planning of their care and given opportunities to feedback on the service they received. People’s views were acted upon.
The provider had systems in place to encourage and respond to any complaints or compliments. The provider and management team had good links with the local communities within which people lived.
Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection Springfield Care Home was rated as good. The last inspection report was published on 13 October 2017. At this inspection the home had deteriorated to requires improvement.
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 inspection based on the previous rating.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Springfield Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.