Rushden Park

Updated 7 September 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and 2 Expert by Experience’s. 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

Rushden Park 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. Rushden Park 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. However, they had been absent from the service since our last inspection. The provider had deployed a manager from another service to oversee the delivery of the regulated activities at this location in the registered manager’s absence.

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 and professionals who work with the service. 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 spoke with 11 people who used the service and 7 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 14 members of staff including the regional director, the manager, the deputy manager, the clinical nurse lead, nurses, care workers, housekeeping and maintenance staff and the chef.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people’s care plans, medicine records and daily care records. We looked at 3 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.

Updated 7 September 2023

About the service

Rushden Park is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 68 people in one purpose-built building. At the time of our inspection there were 35 people using the service.

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

Improvements had been made in relation to identifying and managing risks to people. However, further development was required. Daily checks completed by the management team had not always identified areas of improvement and potential risks to people.

People's care plans had improved detailing people's likes, dislikes and preferences however, people's communication needs were not always recorded. We have made a recommendation about meeting the communication needs of people with a disability or sensory loss.

Staff had received training in safeguarding and understood the signs of abuse and how to report any concerns. The provider and manager had recruited more staff since the last inspection. Staff told us the increase in staffing levels meant they had more time to support and talk to people. Records showed there had been a reduction in accidents and incidents since the last inspection.

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.

Staff had been provided with training to ensure they had the relevant skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively. People at risk of malnutrition and dehydration were monitored and encouraged to eat and drink.

People we spoke with told us that staff were kind and caring and we saw staff respected people's privacy and dignity. Improvements had been made to ensure people did not suffer from social isolation. We observed people spending time in the communal areas and accessing the community. People's care records showed they were supported to access health care services and professionals where required.

Systems were in place to record and monitor complaints from people and/or their relatives. Regular meetings had been put in place to give people and their relatives the opportunity to provide feedback on areas of improvement within the service.

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 April 2023) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was in continued breach of 1 of the regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 7 April 2023. 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.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement and Recommendations

At this inspection, we have identified a continued breach in relation to governance and oversight and we have made a recommendation about meeting the communication needs of people with a disability or sensory loss.

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.