Archived: Arundel Park Residential and Nursing Home

Updated 18 September 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Arundel Park Residential and Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 27 August 2019.

What we did before 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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eleven members of staff including registered manager, deputy manager, four care workers, the chef and the activities coordinator. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 18 September 2019

About the service

Arundel Park Residential and Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to a maximum of 50 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 48 people. Care was provided over two floors for people with complex healthcare needs and those living with dementia.

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

People told us how the care at Arundel Park helped them to feel safe. Risk was assessed in appropriate detail and regularly reviewed. Staff understood their responsibility to report any concerns and we found action had been taken in response. Medicines were safely managed in accordance with best-practice guidance and regulation. Staff were safely recruited and subject to checks before they started work. However, staff were not always deployed effectively across the building. We discussed this with the registered manager who agreed to review the deployment of staff at the busiest times.

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. Most people told us they enjoyed the food and drinks available and had a good choice. The service operated in accordance with the relevant standards and best-practice guidance. Staff were given regular training and supervision told us they felt well-supported by the registered manager and provider. The building was in the process of being refurbished. Work was planned to improve the experience of people living with dementia.

The people we spoke with were very positive about the conduct of staff, the care they provided and their kindness. We saw and heard examples of staff interacting positively with people throughout the inspection. People were involved in making decisions about their care and their rights to privacy and dignity were understood. Where people had additional or different needs relating to equality and diversity, this was recorded and reflected in the care provided.

We saw clear evidence people’s individual needs and preferences were met by the service. Staff adapted the way in which they communicated with people to engage them and to ensure important information was shared. People were supported and encouraged to take part in a range of activities and to maintain relationships. Complaints were addressed in accordance with the provider’s policy and best-practice guidance.

Our observations and discussions evidenced a positive, learning culture where people were supported to reflect on performance and improve practice. The registered manager and provider constantly monitored the provision of care and the environment to further improve people’s experience of receiving care. The people we spoke with said communication with the management team was good. There was clear evidence of working with healthcare professionals and commissioners to improve outcomes for people.

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 8 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.