Mountfield

Updated 23 September 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

This inspection also checked whether the provider had met the requirements of the Warning Notice in relation to Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations on a specific concern we had about infection prevention and control, and the management of risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors on the first site visit. A single inspector returned for a further site visit to complete the inspection. An Expert by Experience spoke with people’s relatives via telephone calls. 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

Mountfield is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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. The registered manager was currently absent from work, and an interim manager who is registered at one of the providers other locations, was managing Mountfield at the time of our inspection.

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.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We carried out observations of the environment and the care and support provided. We reviewed records relating to the maintenance and management of the service, records and care plans relating to the care of four people in the service. We also looked at records relating to the management of medicines. We spoke to one person living at the service, two support workers, a kitchen assistant, the administrator, a team leader, two deputy managers and the interim manager. Following the first day of our inspection site visits, an Expert by Experience made phone calls to nine relatives and one family friend of a service user to gain their views on Mountfield.

Updated 23 September 2021

About the service

Mountfield is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 18 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 46 people. Mountfield is a purpose-built care home specialising in support for people living with dementia. Accommodation is provided across two floors.

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

Improvements had been made to promote people’s safety and deliver good quality care. However further improvements were still needed in some areas.

The assessing of risks to people was more detailed so that staff could support people safely but some information in these records was contradictory. Security of the premises still required minor improvements. Infection prevention and control was much improved, and the premises were very clean. Medicines were managed safely but further changes could be made to ensure information for topical creams was clear for staff to follow. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding and how to report concerns.

The manager had a plan in place to further develop the environment for people living with dementia to help people orientate around the home, promote independence and reduce confusion. Care records were much more comprehensive, but the information presented was at times contradictory and not always person centred in the way it was written. Staff training had improved which led to staff feeling confident in supporting people.

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 this practice.

Staff were kind and caring. They treated people with respect and promoted their independence. Relatives had reported recent improvements to the way they were involved in their loved one’s care.

Improvements to activities provided and interest areas were underway. We saw that people were stimulated to be involved in activities to promote independence, reduce social isolation and deliver enjoyment. Complaints were managed appropriately. Improvements needed to be made in collating and recording the wishes of people for care at the end of their life.

The new manager and management team had made good progress since the last inspection to improve the safety and quality of care delivered to people. Relatives we spoke to told us of recent improvements in communication. Where we identified further improvements were required, the manager had identified this and was developing a plan and timeline to implement these.

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 7 January 2021) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. 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 7 January 2021. 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

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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 relevant key question sections of this full report.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.