Background to this inspection
Updated
19 February 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by an inspector.
Service and service type
Springfield House 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 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
The provider sent us a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed information we had received about the service, such as details about incidents the provider must notify CQC about, for example incidents of abuse. We reviewed all other information sent to us from stakeholders such as the local authority and members of the public. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people to ask about their experience of the care provided and one relative. We spoke with the registered manager and staff members. We looked at three people's care records and medicine records. We looked at two staff files for recruitment, supervision and appraisal and training records. We also looked at quality monitoring records relating to the management of the service such as audits and quality assurance reports.
Updated
19 February 2020
About the service
Springfield House is a care home providing personal care for 18 older people. The service can
support up to 22 people.
People’s experience of using the service
People told us they felt safe living at Springfield House and processes were in place to reduce the risk of abuse. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment processes were sufficient. Risk assessments were carried out to mitigate potential risks and lessons were learnt from incidents and accidents. We found medicines were not always managed safely and we made a recommendation for the provider to ensure errors were investigated in a timely manner. Health and safety checks were carried out. However, actions from the last electrical test had not been completed. The registered manager immediately took action to rectify this and confirmed the work was completed following our inspection.
Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive was possible. People were offered choices about their care. People were involved in meal choices and supported to maintain a balanced diet. Health needs were regularly monitored, and staff followed the advice healthcare professionals gave them. Staff received training and followed best practice.
People said staff were kind and caring. One person said, “I don’t think I would find a better home. Staff are always polite, lovely and do anything for you.” People were well cared for by staff who treated them with respect and dignity. Observations of staff practice was carried out by to ensure people’s privacy and dignity was constantly being embedded into day to day practice. Each person had a keyworker who spent time with people to gather their views and manage any concerns.
Care plans were created and included guidance for staff to support people in a way they wanted. People’s wishes for end of life care had been recorded and staff were trained to support people when needed. A complaints system was in place and complaints were managed effectively.
Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. Surveys and meetings were held with people, their relatives and staff to ask for their views and their suggestions were used to improve the home. The registered manager had good links to local services, charities and organisations.
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 25 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.