Ilsham Valley Nursing Home

Updated 20 December 2019

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.

Inspection team

One inspector and an Expert by Experience undertook 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

Ilsham Valley Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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. The service was being managed by the former deputy manager who was in the process of submitting an application to register with the CQC. This means that once registered, they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including the monthly reports submitted by the provider. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met 10 people who used the service, speaking with eight in detail, and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the manager, the clinical lead nurse, a registered nurse, senior care workers, care workers, the activity co-ordinator and the chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including staff training, complaints and health and safety audits were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with three professionals who had recently been involved with the home.

Updated 20 December 2019

About the service

Ilsham Valley Nursing Home is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 23 older people who might also be living with a physical disability. At the time of the inspection, 20 people were living at the home. Accommodation is provided over two floors with a passenger lift and stair lift providing access to the upper floor.

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

Without exception all the people and relatives we spoke with praised the home. People’s comments included, “The home is well organised by the manager and it is homely” and “The staff here are caring and lovely, nothing is too much trouble for them, there is a lovely feel about the place.”

People felt safe and well cared for. Relatives also felt confident their relations were being well cared for and were safe. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed and management plans were in place to ensure risks were mitigated as much as possible. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to keep people safe and protect them from avoidable harm or abuse.

People’s preferences were respected, and staff were sensitive and attentive to people’s needs. Staff were seen to be kind, caring and friendly and it was clear staff knew people and their relatives well.

There were sufficient numbers of nursing and care staff employed to ensure people’s needs were met. Staff had time to sit and engage people in conversation and to support people’s involvement in social activities. Recruitment practices were safe, and staff were well-trained.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. Medicine management practices were safe.

The home was clean, well maintained and pleasantly decorated. Equipment used to support people’s care and to maintain the safety of the home, was regularly serviced to ensure it remained in safe working order.

Consideration was given to providing a variety of leisure and social activities for people to enjoy.

Quality assurance processes ensured people received high quality care that met their needs and respected their preferences. People and their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care. The home encouraged people’s feedback. People said they felt listened to and, although no one we spoke with had any complaints, they felt able to raise concerns should they need to do so. 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.

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 requires improvement (published 27 November 2018) and there was a breach of regulation. We imposed a condition on the provider’s registration to carry out monthly audits and to submit reports to the CQC. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.