Homecroft Residential Home

Updated 21 January 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 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

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Homecroft Residential 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 our last inspection of 30 January 2019. This included gaining feedback from the commissioning authority for the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and three people's relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, the nominated individual, three care staff, the activities co-ordinator, a cleaner and the cook for the day. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We also spoke with two external health care professionals. We observed part of a medicine round in which we saw three people being given their medicine. We looked at the medicines administration records and other record for three people.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records, including three people's care records to see how their care and support was planned and delivered. We looked at records related to how the service operated and was managed. We also reviewed three staff files to check staff had been recruited safely.

Updated 21 January 2022

About the service

Homecroft Residential Home is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 23 people. At the time of our inspection 19 older people resided at the home, some of whom lived with dementia.

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

People felt safe living at Homecroft Residential Home. Staff and the management team took action to keep people safe and protect them from harm. Risk assessment processes had been implemented to prevent accidents and incidents occurring.

Recruitment policies were followed to prevent unsuitable staff being appointed. Enough staff were available to meet people's needs. Medicines were appropriately managed to prevent people being placed at risk. The home was visibly clean, and the provider's infection prevention and control measures had been effective. The environment was dementia friendly in line with best practice. A range of communal areas including a well-maintained garden were available for people to enjoy.

People were supported to have 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. People and their relatives had confidence in the ability of staff to provide effective care. Staff completed induction training when they started work and ongoing training to help them provide effective care to people. People enjoyed the food and drink available and their dietary needs were met. People had access to healthcare professionals when needed to maintain and/or improve their health and well-being.

People received personalised care and the staff team demonstrated a shared commitment to providing good care. People liked the staff and we saw staff treated them with kindness. People's right to privacy was respected, their independence was promoted, and their dignity was maintained.

People were happy with the social activities available to occupy their time and they had been supported to keep in contact with people who were important to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. People and their relatives knew how to complain. Feedback was welcomed and was used to drive forward improvement and learn lessons.

People and relatives spoke positively about the management team. Governance processes enabled managers and the provider to have an oversight of the service. The registered manager understood their responsibilities and staff understood what the management team expected of them. The management team welcomed our inspection and understood the need to be open and honest if things went wrong.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 February 2019).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.