Updated 29 April 2021
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.
This was a targeted inspection to check on specific concerns related to COVID-19 staff testing. As part of this inspection we looked at the infection prevention and control 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
Two inspectors completed this inspection.
Service and service type
Bafford House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
There was not a registered manager in position. When in post 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. The partnership which the service is currently registered in has dissolved and the provider is taking action to adjust their registration.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the provider one weeks’ notice. This was to give the provider time to work with infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists to make urgent improvements to their COVID-19 IPC arrangements.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information of concern which had been shared with us by the local health protection team in relation to COVID-19 staff testing. We sought feedback from the local authority and local infection, prevention and control (IPC) professionals, who had worked with the service to review and improve their COVID-19 arrangements. We reviewed two infection control audits and a visiting policy and procedures which the provider had forwarded to us on request. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with a representative of the provider, the deputy manager, three care assistants, two members of the housekeeping team; one cleaner and one laundry assistant. We spoke with one agency member of staff. We spoke with one person who lived in the home.
We reviewed records related to staff COVID-19 testing, staff rosters, fire drills, weekly fire alarm testing and contractor service records related to the fire alarm and emergency lighting system. We toured the building and ran the hot water at a selection of hot water outlets to see how hot the water was running.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and to receive confirmation on the actions they were taking since the inspection. We continued to liaise with professionals from the local authority and IPC specialists.