Background to this inspection
Updated
22 July 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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 completed by one inspector and an assistant inspector.
Service and service type
Belmont Castle is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A new manager had been recruited and had commenced employment shortly before the inspection. They confirmed they were intending to apply to become the registered manager. This means that they and the provider will be legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure members of the management team would be available to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included inspection reports, action plans submitted by the provider and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, care workers, two housekeeping staff, two catering staff and area manager. We observed care being provided within communal areas of the home and viewed the home and garden.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including records of checks completed on the fire detection systems.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with five relatives, five further staff members and contacted six external health or social care professionals. We looked at training data, policies and procedures, records of accidents or incidents, complaints and quality assurance records.
Updated
22 July 2021
About the service
Belmont castle is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 40 older people. At the time of this inspection there were 27 people living at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives all gave us positive feedback about the home and told us that staff were kind and caring. We observed positive communication between staff and people. Activities suited to people’s interests and abilities were provided seven days a week and promoted people's health and well-being. The environment was warm and homely.
There were appropriate policies and systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and the management team and staff understood the actions they should take to keep people safe.
People were supported to take their medicines safely and as prescribed. They were able to access health and social care professionals if needed, received enough to eat and drink and were happy with the food provided. Infection prevention and control measures were in place and followed government guidance.
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.
Individual and environmental risks were managed appropriately. People had access to any necessary equipment where needed, which helped ensure people were safe from harm. Staff had received fire safety training and knew what to do in the event of a fire.
Appropriate recruitment procedures were in place to help ensure only suitable staff were employed. There were enough staff to support people's needs. Staff had received training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. They received supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role.
Care plans contained detailed relevant information about people’s health and social care and support needs. People and, where appropriate family members, were involved in the development of care plans.
Staff understood equality and diversity. People were treated with dignity, and their privacy
was respected. Independence was promoted.
The management team carried out regular checks on the quality and safety of the service and understood their regulatory responsibilities. People, their relatives and external professionals said the management team were approachable and supportive. Staff were also positive about the management team.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 30 May 2019) and there were three breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous 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.
The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Belmont Castle on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.