Argyle Residential Home

Updated 17 March 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

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Argyle Residential Home 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. Argyle Residential Home 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 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 6 people who used the service. We completed informal observations of communal areas within the home. We spoke with 6 members of staff including care assistants, cook, domestic staff, deputy manager and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records including 6 people’s care records, medicine administration records and some records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 17 March 2023

About the service

Argyle Residential Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 28 people. The service provides support to younger adults and older adults, including those with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people using the service. The home is split over a number of floors, with people’s bedrooms located on each. People have access to communal spaces and a dining area.

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

The providers governance systems did not always ensure effective oversight of the service. Audits were not completed for some key risk areas within the service. Quality assurance checks that were completed did not always identify improvements required to ensure people’s safety.

Some aspects of the environment and equipment used were not always safe. People’s main risks were identified and assessed, but some improvements were required to ensure consistent detail was recorded in relation to specific health needs. Overall medicines were managed safely, but some minor improvements were required to ensure room temperature checks and medicine profiles were in place. There were enough suitably trained staff to meet the needs of people using the service. The home was clean and well maintained, with staff adhering to current COVID-19 guidance. People told us they felt safe and staff understood how to protect people from the risk of abuse.

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.

A positive culture was promoted within the home. People told us they liked living at Argyle Residential Home. Staff and leaders promoted person centred care, knew people well and respected their equality characteristics. Feedback was actively sought and used to improve people’s experience at the home. There were positive working relationships with a range of different professionals and stakeholders.

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 2 December 2017).

Why we inspected

We carried out a focused inspection due to the age of the previous rating.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report. We are assured the registered manager has taken action following the inspection to address our concerns.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Argyle Residential Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.