Archived: Barham Care Centre Limited

Updated 21 September 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection was unannounced and carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience on 30 August 2017. An Expert-by-Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection the provider completed a provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed the previous inspection report and the action plan sent to us by the service with regard to the previous inspection to help us plan what areas we were going to focus on during our inspection. We looked at other information we held about the service including statutory notifications. This is information providers are required to send us by law to inform us of significant events.

We carried out a Short Observations Framework Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not express their views and experiences with us.

We spoke with six people who were able to verbally express their views about the quality of the service they received and three people’s relatives. We observed the care and support provided to people and the interactions between staff and people throughout our inspection.

We looked at records in relation to five people’s care. We spoke with the company director, the head of human resources, the registered manager, a qualified nurse, a team leader and two care assistant staff.

We looked at records relating to the management of medicines, staff recruitment, staff training, complaints and compliments and systems for monitoring the quality and safety of the service.

Updated 21 September 2017

We carried out this unannounced inspection on 30 August 2017.

Barham Care Centre is a nursing home which provides accommodation and support to older people and those living with dementia. The service can accommodate a maximum of 44 people. On the day of our inspection there were 27 people using the service and two of those people were in hospital.

Our last inspection of 13 May 2016 we rated the service as requiring improvement overall. This was because we found the service was not meeting the requirements in relation to safety, providing an effective service and we had concerns about how the service was led. We received an action plan from the service explaining how the service would resolve these issues which we used to plan this inspection and check that the improvements had been made.

At this inspection we found the service had taken the necessary action to resolve the issues identified in 2016.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Since our last inspection the registered manager had established themselves into their management position. They had addressed the issues identified with medicines administration and recording, safe recruitment practice, standards of cleanliness in the kitchen and ensuring quality and safety systems were established and operated effectively.

The registered manager used a dependency tool to identify the number of staff required to be on duty to meet the assessed needs of the people using the service. We found there were sufficient staffing of qualified nurses and care staff to meet people’s identified needs. Nursing staff with the support of the team leaders organised the care to be provided to each person by the staff team.

Risks to people’s safety were identified and managed. Staff had received training in managing risk and how to provide a safe environment for people.

Staff received training in safeguarding and were aware of what actions they should take to safeguard people from potential, actual abuse and knew what actions to take to promote people’s safety and well-being.

There was now a robust staff recruitment policy and procedure in operation. This was operated to ensure only suitable staff were employed. Once employed staff were supported by an induction and regular supervision and appraisals were provided. Training was organised to develop and maintain staff skills including the nursing staff who had all revalidating their qualification. The management team were supported by regular visits from the company director.

There were suitable arrangements for the safe storage, management and disposal of medicines. There was a process and procedure in place for the recording of topical creams and lotions. All of the staff administering medicines had received training in the administration of medicines.

The service had been extended and refurbished since our last inspection including the renovation of the kitchen. There were regular environmental checks in place in operation for the entire service.

Staff were knowledgeable with regard to Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The service had made referrals and worked with the local authority to support people who used the service with regard to MCA and DoLS.

People had their nutrition and hydration needs met through effective planning and delivery of nutritious menus. Menus were varied and took into account people’s dietary preferences.

The service had built up an effective and supportive relationship with the general practitioner service.

People’s privacy and dignity were respected by staff who were familiar with their needs and took into account how people wanted to be cared for.

Prior to coming to the service people and their families were given information about Barham Care Centre. Each person had a recorded needs assessment and a care plan which was regularly reviewed in order for the staff to provide personalised care.

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The service had a complaints procedure which was available for people to use if so required. There were a range of activities organised from discussions with the people and their families.

Surveys were carried out by the manager to identify how the service could continue to be improved. Staff meetings were arranged to listen to the views of the service staff. The service had a statement of purpose focussed upon living with dignity and supporting independence.