Background to this inspection
Updated
24 February 2024
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors and a pharmacist specialist advisor in July 2023. An additional inspection visit took place in December 2023, this was carried out by an operations manager and an inspector.
Service and service type
Blythe Rose Nursing 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. Blythe Rose Nursing Home is a care home with 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 initial inspection visits there was a registered manager in post. However, at our December visit the service had a different manager who was in the process of being registered with the Commission.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about 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 10 people and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 2 professionals who have contact with the service. We spoke with 13 members of staff including the nominated individual, registered manager, director/lead commissioning manager, home manager, director of regulation and 9 members of nursing and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care plans, a range of medicine administration records (MAR) and 5 staff recruitment files. We viewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including audit systems. We spent time observing the care that people received within the home.
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records as well as audits and policies. We spoke with 2 healthcare professionals who regularly have contact with people who use the service. We also spoke with commissioners and Healthwatch. As people were living with dementia, we used SOFI (Short Observational Framework for Inspection).
Updated
24 February 2024
About the service
Blythe Rose Nursing Home is a care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 80 people. The service provides support to adults of all ages, some of whom may have dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 31 people using the service. The home is part of a group of care homes owned by the provider.
Blythe Rose is a purpose-built home, with accommodation over three floors which can be accessed via a lift. Each floor have separate areas which are called lodges. Two floors were occupied at the time of the inspection.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Systems and processes supported staff to keep people safe. Quality assurance audits and checks were completed by the manager and provider, to identify areas of improvement and monitor key aspects of the service
People were safe at the service as staff understood their roles in managing any possible safeguarding issues. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and measures were in place to mitigate them and keep people safe. The provider undertook safe recruitment processes to ensure people were supported by a suitable staff group.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who received training for their role. A bespoke training system were in in place to meet the needs of people in the service, specifically complex dementia. A robust system to ensure staff were competent and training was embedded was in place.
People received their medicines from staff who were competent and trained. Staff employed safe practices to control the risks of infection at the service and there were processes in place to learn from incidents and accidents to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
People’s nutritional and health needs were well managed and the environment they lived in was well maintained. The home was clean and hygienic, with robust infection prevention and control practices in place. The service had several communal areas for people to use, both inside and outside the property.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. 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 by a caring staff group who respected their choices. People had the opportunity to voice their opinions on their care and were supported when needed with the services of advocates.
People received care in a personalised way, care and support needs were planned with people to meet their specific needs. Staff we spoke with showed a good understanding of people’s needs, information in the care plans supported this.
People were supported to maintain relationships with their families, follow their hobbies and be involved in social activities. Information was provided in ways people could understand and there was accessible information around the service to support people should they wish to make a complaint.
People and staff told us the manager was approachable, and both people and staff were able to voice their opinions about the service and felt they were listened to. The manager worked to provide an open person-centred approach to people’s care and worked with other health care professionals to achieve this.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 10 October 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.