Homewood

Updated 5 July 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

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience completed this inspection. 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

Homewood 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. Homewood 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. 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We sought feedback from Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, the area manager, 2 senior carer’s, 4 carers, the chef and the administration assistant. We also spoke with an external healthcare professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records in full and multiple medicine records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed.

Updated 5 July 2023

About the service

Homewood is a residential care home that provides personal care to up to 50 older people. At the time of our inspection, 32 people were living at the home. There were three floors but at the time of our inspection, the third floor was unoccupied. People resided over two floors known as ‘Elm’ and ‘Oak’.

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

Prior to our inspection, we received concerns about ineffective safeguarding procedures at the home. We found no evidence to substantiate this concern. Each person we spoke with felt protected people from the risk of abuse. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities to identify and report any concerns.

There were enough suitably skilled staff to provide safe and effective care. Staff responded to people’s needs in a timely way.

Risks to people's health and wellbeing had been identified and assessed. Risk management plans informed staff how to support people safely and mitigate those identified risks. People’s medicines were ordered, received, securely stored, managed and disposed of safely. People were supported to have their medicines as prescribed. The home was clean, tidy and staff followed good infection prevention and control processes.

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.

Since our last inspection, systems and processes had been improved to ensure the quality of service was continuously monitored. A range of audits were in place which were effective in identifying where improvements were needed. Where any issues had been identified, these were added to a continuous improvement service plan to enable the registered manager to monitor the progress of actions and when these actions had been completed.

People and relatives told us the home was well-led. There was a relaxed atmosphere within the home where people were seen to be laughing and smiling. Staff were present, and supported people in a positive and friendly manner in line with the providers values.

People and relatives told us they had opportunities to provide feedback about the service. The registered manager was visible and people had daily opportunities to speak to them and raise concerns or suggestions

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 1 January 2020).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about effective safeguarding practices. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe section of this full report.

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 remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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