Northfield Care Centre

Updated 4 May 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.

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 carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Northfield Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 4 April 2023 and ended on 26 April 2023. We visited the home on 4 April 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We received feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider had completed a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the registered manager, nurses, senior care worker, care workers, ancillary staff and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

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. This included 4 people’s care records, medication records and weight records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 4 May 2023

About the service

Northfield Care Service is a care home It can accommodate up to 80 people in a purpose-built building. It comprises of five units providing personal and nursing care for older people, including people living with dementia. There were 68 people using the service at the time of the inspection.

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

There was a quality monitoring system in place covering all aspects of the management of the service. Action plans were then developed to help drive improvement. We identified some documentation that could be improved to ensure standards were maintained. The registered manager addressed this following our site visit and sent us the actions taken to improve these areas.

We have made a recommendation that, documentation is consistent and new systems embedded into practice.

People told us they felt safe living at the service. Staff had a good understanding of abuse and the safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report abuse and incidents of concern. Relatives we spoke with told us their family members were kept safe. There were enough staff to support people safely. People received medicines as prescribed. However, we identified some minor documentation errors and lack of consistency between units. This was addressed by the registered manager and evidence of audits and actions taken were provided. Staff administering medicines had received training which was regularly refreshed. Risks to people were managed and assessments contained appropriate guidance for staff to follow. Incidents and accidents were monitored, analysed and reviewed to ensure lessons were learnt. However, documentation could be improved to evidence how risks were mitigated. 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.

Staff followed infection prevention and control procedures. The registered manager and staff understood the importance of infection control. However, we identified some minor issues that required attention, which were addressed.

The management were visible in the service and staff told us they felt supported. People felt listened to and their views were obtained. Feedback we received from people and their relatives was predominantly positive. One relative told us, “The manager is very responsive." Although some relatives were not aware who the new registered manager was, they all said communication was very good. One relative said, “They [Staff] communicate with me every week and let me know of any changes.”

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 22 September 2022)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We undertook this focused inspection and this report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe and well led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Northfield Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.