Archived: Bankhouse Care Home

Updated 9 December 2023

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 was carried out by two inspectors and a specialist advisor. The site visit took place over two days.

Service and service type

Bankhouse Care 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. Bankhouse Care 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 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 including information from the public. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not 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 spoke with six people who used the service about their experience of the care provided, in addition we spoke with four relatives. We also spoke with an external health professional. In addition, we spoke with eleven members of staff including the registered manager, regional quality improvement lead, three qualified nurses, two care staff, two cooks, a maintenance person and a well-being coordinator.

Updated 9 December 2023

About the service

Bankhouse Care Home is registered to provide nursing and residential care for up to 52 people who may be living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection 31 people were receiving care and support at the home.

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

People were cared for by staff who were caring and knew people’s needs and wishes. We found some areas of the home required cleaning and clutter needed to be removed to minimise the risk and spread of infection. Risks to people from the environment were not always managed. Care documentation and management of medicines required improvement, and this was being addressed by the registered manager and management team.

People told us they felt safe, and they were supported by staff who helped them quickly if they needed this. Checks were completed to help ensure prospective staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people and staff had completed training to support their skills and knowledge. Risk assessments relating to care were carried out to help minimise the risk of avoidable harm and staff knew the help and support people needed.

One area of the home had been identified as requiring action to improve the environment. We have made a recommendation about the timescale for completion of improvements to the environment.

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.

People were referred to health professionals if this was needed and there was regular contact with external health teams to ensure people’s needs were identified and met.

Checks and audits were carried out to identify what had gone well, or if improvements were required. These did not always drive improvement. Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager and management team, and they could approach them to ask for advice or guidance. The provider identified individual achievements and staff were recognised for their contribution to people’s lives. People were consulted and asked their views on the service provided. They told us they were happy at the home and were confident any comments or complaints they made would be listened to. Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and management team and they were able to approach them if they needed support and guidance.

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

Rating at last inspection The last rating for this service was good (published 27/09/2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of skin integrity and wound care, personal care, call bells and staff training. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report. The provider responded to our concerns and took action to improve the service. This has minimised associated risks.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bankhouse Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to the management of infection prevention and control, the management of environmental risk and governance. We have also made a recommendation regarding the timescale of completion for the outstanding actions in relation to improvements to the environment at one part of the home.

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.