Updated 16 December 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 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 team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
Eridge House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Eridge House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location as the registered person is not in day to day charge of the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was no registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. We looked at notifications and any safeguarding alerts we had received for this service. sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.
The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection (April 2022). A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 8 people who used the service and 3 family members about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with eight members of staff, including the managers, housekeeper, and a selection of care staff. We reviewed five people’s care plans, risk assessments and medicine records. We also reviewed 4 staff records in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed. The second day was dedicated to talk to staff, people and to visitors who wished to be involved in the inspection process.
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. This was undertaken in the communal lounge. Following the site visit we continued to seek feedback from families and health professionals.