York House

Updated 6 October 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 consisted of two inspectors.

Service and service type

York House 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. York House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is also a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

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 post.

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. 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 two people who used the service and spent time observing care. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager and four care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included seven people’s care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 6 October 2022

About the service

York House is a residential care home providing personal to up to 16 people. The service also provides personal care to people living in their own homes. The service provides support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. It also provides support to people with physical disabilities or sensory impairment.

At the time of our inspection there were 10 people living at the home and a further five people who received support in their own homes. Not everyone who received support in their own homes received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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

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.

Risks to people living in the care home had been assessed, however, more work was needed to fully identify the risks to people receiving care in their own home. We have recommended the provider review the information in the care plans for people who receive care in their own homes.

Audits were in place to assess the quality of care provided and had identified most actions needed to drive improvements in care.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff had received the training needed to provide safe care. Staff were confident to raise concerns where they felt people may have been at risk of harm.

The registered manager worked collaboratively with the local authority to ensure action was taken to keep people safe from abuse. Incidents were identified, analysed and action was taken to keep people safe.

Medicines were safely managed and people received their medicines as prescribed. The home was clean and staff followed infection control processes.

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 8 June 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 8 June 2022. During 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

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 carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 13 January 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. We undertook this targeted inspection to check whether the Warning Notice we previously served in relation to Regulation 12, 13, 17 and 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.