Updated 20 May 2022
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
The inspection team was made up of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The site visit was carried out by one inspector. The Expert by Experience made phone calls to relatives on the day of the inspection.
Service and service type
Blyth 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. This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in place.
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. This included safeguarding referrals and notifications of significant events. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
Some people were unable to verbally express their views about their care, so we made observations of the care provided and we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with two people living at the service. The Expert by Experience spoke with five people’s relatives by telephone to seek their feedback on the care and support their loved ones received.
We met and spoke with the registered manager, registered nurse, two care staff and an activity coordinator. We reviewed a range of records, including three people’s care records and eight medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to staff recruitment and supervision, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including monitoring checks and audits.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.