Archived: St Georges Nursing Care Home

Updated 18 July 2018

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.

St George’s Nursing Care Home is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This comprehensive inspection visit took place on 26 March 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector and an expert-by-experience. The expert-by-experience is a person who had personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience had a background in supporting older people.

Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider, about incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people who lived at the home and previous inspection reports. We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people supported by the services had been received.

We also contacted the commissioning department at Lancashire County Council. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.

As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection visit we spoke with a range of people about the service. They included six people who lived at the home, four visiting relatives and three visiting healthcare professionals. We also spoke with the registered manager, two company directors, five care staff, the activities coordinator and the chef. We observed care practices and how staff interacted with people in their care. This helped us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at care records of three people who lived at the home. We also viewed a range of other documentation related to the management of the home. This included records relating to the management of the service, medication records, recruitment and supervision arrangements of two staff members and staffing levels. We also checked the environment to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

Updated 18 July 2018

St George’s Nursing Care Home provides accommodation for up to 27 people, who require 24-hour nursing and personal care. The home is situated close to the sea front in St Annes on Sea and is within easy reach of public transport, the beach and local amenities. Accommodation within the home is situated on two floors. There is a passenger lift and stair case providing access to the upper floor. The service has a lounge, dining room and conservatory situated on the ground floor. A limited number of car parking spaces are available to the front of the building on a private forecourt, but on road parking is also permitted. At the time of our inspection visit there were 24 people who lived at the home.

At the last inspection, carried out on 22 February 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People who lived at the home told us they were happy, felt safe and were treated with kindness at all times.

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’s care and support had been planned with them. They told us they had been consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered.

Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received.

The service had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. People told us they received their medicines at times they needed them.

We saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for people supported by the service. They told us they were treated as individuals and received person centred care.

We looked around the building and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

The service had safe infection control procedures in place. People who lived at the home told us they were happy with the standard of hygiene in place.

People told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration.

People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met. A visiting healthcare professional spoke highly about the care provided by the manager and her staff.

People told us staff were caring towards them. Staff we spoke with understood the importance of high standards of care to give people meaningful lives. They told us staff who supported them treated them with respect and dignity.

The service had information with regards to support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.

People who lived at the home told us they enjoyed a variety of activities and trips out which were organised for their entertainment.

The service had a complaints procedure which was on display in the hallway for people’s attention. The people we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

The service used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, resident meetings and satisfaction surveys to seek their views about the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.