St Catherines Nursing Home

Updated 2 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This comprehensive inspection visit took place on 20 December 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector 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.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to assist with planning the inspection but took into account that this information was over a year old.

We also reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service the provider is required to tell us about. We considered the last inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. We also contacted commissioners who had a contract with the service and looked at feedback posted on an online reviews website.

During the inspection visit, we spoke with four people who used the service, and three people’s relatives. We spoke with the provider’s representative, the registered manager, two nurses, a senior care worker, two care workers (one of whom worked for an employment agency), the cook, the ancillary staff supervisor and the maintenance person. Throughout the inspection we observed how the staff interacted with people who lived in the service.

We looked at records relating to eight people’s care, staff training records and other records relating to the management of the service. These included audits, rotas and meeting minutes.

We received feedback from two healthcare professionals on 28 December 2018.

Updated 2 February 2019

We inspected the service on 20 December 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

St Catherines Nursing 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 accommodates 39 people.

On the day of our inspection 32 people were using the service.

At our last inspection on 7 and 8 September 2016 we rated the service ‘good.’ At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘good’ overall. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

People were protected from avoidable harm by a staff team trained and confident to recognise and report any concerns. Potential risks to people were assessed and minimised.

Staff were only employed after the provider had carried out satisfactory pre-employment checks. There were enough staff to ensure people’s needs were met safely and in a timely manner.

People were supported to receive their prescribed medicines by staff who were trained and had been assessed as competent to administer medicines. The service was clean and tidy and staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection.

Staff knew the people they cared for well and understood, and met, their needs. People received care from skilled and knowledgeable staff who were trained in a wide range of topics and were well supported.

People were well supported by staff to have enough to eat and drink. Staff assisted people to access external healthcare services to help maintain their health and well-being. The service worked in partnership with other agencies, particularly local healthcare professionals, to provide care that met people’s needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were fully involved in making decisions about their care and support. People and their relatives were involved in the setting up and review of their or their family member’s individual support and care plans.

Staff were kind, caring and friendly. They respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity, and independence. Staff supported people to maintain existing relationships by welcoming visitors into the service.

People’s individual needs were assessed and staff used this information to deliver personalised care that met people’s needs effectively. People had opportunities and were supported to engage in meaningful activity. The service had strong links with the local community. People’s religious and cultural beliefs were respected and supported.

Staff supported people to have the most comfortable, dignified, and pain-free a death as possible. Staff worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure that people received care that met their needs.

People’s suggestions and complaints were listened to, investigated, and acted upon to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Staff liked working for the service. They were clear about their role to provide people with a high-quality service and uphold the service’s values.

The registered manager and provider sought feedback about the quality of the service from people, visitors and other stakeholders. Audits and quality monitoring checks were carried out to help drive forward improvements. The provider invested in resources to improve the service people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.