Sandbeck House Residential Home

Updated 2 December 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the registered 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.

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

Our inspection was conducted by two inspectors 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.

Service and service type

Sandbeck House Residential 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.

The service had a manager registered with CQC. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The registered manager at the time of our inspection was the provider’s area manager. A new service manager (‘the manager’) had been in post since July 2021 and was in the process of applying to become the registered manager. When that happened, the area manager told us she planned to cancel her own registration.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

In planning our inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service. This included information shared with us by other organisations including the local authority contract monitoring and safeguarding teams. We also reviewed notifications submitted to CQC. Notifications are events which happened in the service that the registered provider is required to tell us about.

During the inspection

We conducted our inspection between 3 and 10 November 2021.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, manager, activities coordinator, support services manager and two care staff. We also spoke with three people living in the home and seven relatives.

We reviewed a range of written records including six people’s care file, two staff recruitment files and information relating to the auditing and monitoring of service provision.

After the inspection

We reviewed further information we had requested from the provider, including data relating to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Updated 2 December 2021

About the service

Sandbeck House Residential Home is registered to provide accommodation for up to 38 people requiring nursing or personal care, including older people and people living with dementia. There were 21 people living in the home on the first day of our inspection.

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

A new manager had been in post for about four months. With the support from the registered manager, they were working systematically to improve the service. The manager had an open, reflective leadership style and responded positively to our feedback. Staff understood the need for change and were supportive of the manager’s approach.

Under the leadership of the new manager, significant progress had been made. All five breaches of regulations identified at our last inspection had been addressed.

However, further improvement was required to provide people with more stimulation and occupation; to ensure staff consistently worked in accordance with the training they had been given and to ensure staff worked consistently in a person-centred way.

More positively, staff were kind and caring and were aware of the importance of promoting people’s dignity, privacy and independence. People received food and drink of good quality that generally met their individual preferences. The care planning system was effective.

Staffing resources were managed safely and effectively to meet people's needs. Staff recruitment was safe. Staff worked together in a mutually supportive way and liaised with a range of external health and social care agencies on behalf of the people in their care.

The provider assessed and managed potential risks to people's safety and welfare. Systems were in place to ensure effective infection prevention and control. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns to keep people safe from harm

Staff were aware of people’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and supported people to have choice and control of their lives, in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The home was well-led. The manager provided supportive, hands-on leadership and had the respect and trust of her team. A range of audits was in place to monitor the quality and safety of service provision. Senior staff were aware of the need to notify CQC of any significant events.

Lessons were learned when things went wrong and any complaints were managed effectively. The provider was committed to the continuous improvement of the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Inadequate (published 31 March 2021) and there were multiple breaches of regulations.

At this inspection we found sufficient improvement had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Inadequate to Requires Improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

This service has been in Special Measures since 31 March 2021. At this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as Inadequate overall, or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. 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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.