Hythe View

Updated 20 July 2017

‘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 inspection took place on 21 June 2017 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector and one specialist advisor, who had clinical nursing knowledge.

Before our inspection we looked at records that were sent to us by the registered manager and the local authority to inform us of significant changes and events. We also reviewed our previous inspection report, and the Provider Information Return (PIR) that the manager had completed. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and what improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with eleven people and four relatives. We spoke with the manager, two nurses, four care staff and two domestic staff. We also spoke to a visiting health professional. We looked at five people’s care plans and the associated risk assessments and guidance. We looked at a range of other records including four staff recruitment files, the staff induction records, training and supervision schedules, staff rotas, medicines records and quality assurance surveys and audits.

Some people were unable to tell us about their experience of care at the service so we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We observed how people were supported and the activities they were engaged in.

Updated 20 July 2017

Hythe Nursing Home is a large detached house in a quiet residential area. It provides nursing care and support for up to 40 older people, most of who are living with dementia and people who require support with additional health needs such as diabetes. There were 39 people living at the service when we visited.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff knew how to recognise abuse and told us they would report any concerns. The manager was aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding people and staff told us they were confident the manager would take appropriate action. Risks to people and the environment are assessed and plans are in place to mitigate risks. People’s medicines were managed safely and in the way they preferred.

Staff were recruited safely, there were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staff had the training they needed to meet people’s needs and competency was assessed by the senior staff. Nursing staff each took a lead role in areas of care such as end of life or wound care and received additional training to support them to do so. Staff told us they felt supported and valued by the manager and the providers.

People were supported to make their own decisions and remain as independent as possible. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People’s privacy was protected and promoted by all staff. People could have visitors whenever they liked and were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends. There were dedicated activity staff and they offered a wide variety of activities, in and out of the service and often linking with the local community.

People had a choice of meals and told us the food was of a good standard. People’s food choices were appropriate for their health needs. People’s health needs were managed well by the nursing staff. Referrals were made to health professionals as soon as concerns arose and any advice given as a result was followed.

People were involved in developing and updating their care plans, the service had a new online system for care plans and recording the care people received. People's care plans were person centred and showed what people could do for themselves and how they preferred to be supported. Staff knew people well, interactions between people and staff were affectionate and relaxed. Staff offered people reassurance and encouragement. People were laughing with staff throughout the day.

People, their relatives and staff told us the manager and providers were accessible and approachable. People and relatives told us they knew who to speak to if they had a complaint and were confident any issues would be addressed. People were encouraged to give their views of the service through surveys and regular meetings. Changes had been made as a result of people’s feedback. The manager was going through the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission, and had previously been in the role of registered manager. They met regularly with the providers and managers of the provider’s other two services to receive support, share good practices and plan improvements for the service.