Background to this inspection
Updated
12 November 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 carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Eldon House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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 had a manager currently going through the registration process with the Care Quality Commission. Registered managers alongside providers 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. 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.
During the inspection
People living at Eldon House were living with dementia, which affected some people’s ability to verbally communicate. However, we did speak with five people who used the service. We looked around the premises and observed staff interacting with people. We spoke with six members of staff including the manager, senior care workers, care workers and the cook.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medicine 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 policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
12 November 2021
About the service
Eldon House is a residential care home that provides care and accommodation for up to 20 people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 15 people living in the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was in the process of improving the environment. However, action was required to complete this by making improvements to decoration and replacing furniture and flooring. We have made a recommendation about this.
Safeguarding processes were in place to help safeguard people from abuse. Risks associated with people's care had been assessed and guidance was in place for staff to follow. Medicines were safely managed.
There were processes in place to prevent and control infection at the service, through regular COVID-19 testing, additional cleaning and safe visiting precautions.
There were enough staff to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. Appropriate recruitment procedures ensured prospective staff were suitable to work in the home.
People were relaxed and comfortable with staff and had no hesitation in asking for help from them. Staff were caring and spent time chatting with people as they moved around the service. There was time for people to have social interaction and activity with staff. Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm.
People living at Eldon House had care plans which detailed their needs and preferences. Staff knew people's care needs well.
People had access to call bells to alert staff if they required any assistance. We saw people received care and support in a timely manner and calls bells were quickly answered.
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.
People were supported to access healthcare services, staff recognised changes in people's health, and sought professional advice appropriately.
We were assured that risks in relation to the COVID pandemic had been managed appropriately. Staff had access to appropriate PPE and hand washing facilities, which they used effectively and safely.
The service sought the views of people, families, staff and other professionals and used feedback received to improve the quality of the service provided.
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 30 October 2018).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to staffing, continence management, the environment and the quality of care people received. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.
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.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Effective section of this report.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
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.