Chase Park Neuro Centre

Updated 2 February 2024

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 undertaken by 3 inspectors and 1 medicines inspector.

Service and service type

Chase Park Neuro Centre 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. Chase Park Neuro Centre 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 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 not a registered manager in place. However, the current manager had been in post for three months and had an application to register recorded with CQC.

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 other professionals who work with the service. The provider was asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the service on 12 and 19 December 2023. We spoke with 10 people who used the service and 6 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, administration manager, occupational therapist, clinical lead, family liaison lead, nurse, support staff, housekeeping staff and the cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and 4 recruitment files. We looked at the governance arrangements for the safe handling of medicines including the providers policy and audits. We looked at medicine’s records and medicine stock. We reviewed a variety of records related to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 2 February 2024

About the service

Chase Park Neuro Centre is a care home providing personal care to up to 60 people. The service provides support to people aged 18 and over, some of whom were living with a neurological condition. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people using the service.

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

Medicines were not managed safely. Improvements were needed in the records and guidance for topical and when required medicines. Further information was also needed for how people should take their medicines.

We found a dirty and ripped shower chair and a lack of shower chairs within the home to meet people's bathing preferences. Following our inspection, 5 additional shower chairs were purchased.

Bathrooms were not big enough to allow them to get dressed in there. This did not uphold people's dignity.

The general environment was tired in relation to decor. The manager shared with us a refurbishment plan which was due to commence in 2024 throughout the two buildings.

We found window restrictors in one corridor of the building opened further than the legal requirement. We made a recommendation about window restrictors and risk assessments relating to this. This was addressed by the provider immediately following our inspection visit.

The manager and staff were open and honest. Whilst we did receive a lot of positive feedback, some staff shared negative feedback regarding the management and culture of the service. We discussed this with the manager who said they would undertake meetings to listen to all views. Staff were keen to learn and drive improvement to ensure people received the best possible care.

The provider did not have a policy relating to duty of candour on the first day of our inspection visit and we made a recommendation about this. This was in place by the second day of our inspection.

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.

Systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people were managed by staff following appropriate risk assessments. We saw staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and staff were recruited safely. Relatives and friends were encouraged to visit the home and spend time with their loved ones.

People’s preferences and choices were being upheld. People were offered choices during mealtimes and enjoyed the food provided in the service. The home ensured people had access to health care professionals when required and worked in a multi-disciplinary way with therapists employed by the service.

People and relatives told us staff were kind and caring. We observed positive interactions between staff and people living in the home.

People told us they enjoyed the activities provided within the service and feedback about the therapies provided was excellent.

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 good (published 19 March 2020 )

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the quality of care being provided to people. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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 have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe, caring, responsive and well-led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

The provider acknowledged the shortfalls found during this inspection. They took action following the first day of inspection to begin to address some of the shortfalls found regarding medicines, records and the environment.

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

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Chase Park Neuro Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to medicine management, safe care and treatment, person centred care, records and provider oversight and monitoring 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.