Airedale Residential & Dementia Home

Updated 4 November 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

Three inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. 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

Airedale Residential & Dementia 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. Airedale Residential & Dementia Home is a care home without 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. Inspection activity started on 16 August 2023 and ended on 5 September 2023. We visited the service on 16 and 24 August 2023.

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 Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time with people in the communal areas observing the care and support provided by staff. We spoke with 8 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 staff including the nominated individual, registered manager, deputy manager, care staff, including seniors, and the cook. 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 14 people's care records and 8 people's medicine records. We looked at 3 staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Alongside our visit to the service, we used remote technology including phone calls to enable us to engage with staff and electronic file sharing to enable us to review additional documentation.

We provided feedback to the registered manager and nominated individual following both days when we visited on site and at the end of the inspection.

Updated 4 November 2023

About the service

Airedale Residential & Dementia Home is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 40 people. The service provides support to adults some of whom may be living with dementia, have mental health needs and/or a physical disability. At the time of our inspection there were 35 people using the service. Accommodation is provided over 3 floors in an adapted building with lift access between the floors. Communal areas are located on the ground floor.

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

People’s medicines were not always managed safely. Risks to people were not identified, assessed or mitigated. The home was not kept clean and hygienic. There were not enough staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People’s privacy and dignity was not always respected.

Audit systems and processes were not robust as issues we found at inspection had not been identified or addressed. However, the provider and registered manager acted promptly in taking action to address the issues and to make improvements during the inspection.

People’s feedback about the food was mixed. People did not always receive a choice or the support they required from staff at mealtimes. We were not assured people’s dietary needs were being met.

We have made a recommendation about meeting people’s dietary choices and preferences.

People were generally happy with the care they received and spoke positively about the staff who supported them. Staff knew people well and were kind and caring. Activities were provided, although people told us they would like more variety and opportunities to go out. People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends. People had access to healthcare services.

Some areas of the home were well decorated and comfortably furnished. In contrast other areas required further improvements. The provider had a refurbishment plan in place to address these issues. Staff received the training and support they required to meet people’s needs. Staff were recruited safely, with appropriate checks carried out.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 14 December 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 5 December 2017.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, privacy and dignity and good governance 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.