Updated 17 November 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 was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Blair 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. 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 the inspection there was no registered manager at the service. However, the new manager had commenced the process to register with CQC.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
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 contacted the local authority market support team for feedback. We reviewed all the information we hold about the service including statutory notifications sent to us by the manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We contacted the local market support team. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
Not everyone living at Blair House was able to tell us their views of the home. We spent time observing the interactions between people and staff in communal areas of the home, in order to help us understand people's experiences.
We spoke with eight people who used the service and contacted two relatives and two health professional following the inspection. We spent time observing care and reviewing care records to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with five members of staff including the nominated individual, manager and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three peoples care plans in full and a further four to look at specific areas relating to their care needs. We also looked at medication records and two staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed accident, incident and safeguarding processes, staffing and induction records. Staff and resident meetings, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service. This included provider improvement/action plans.