Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 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 focused inspection to check whether the provider had made improvements following action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
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 an inspector, a member of the medicines team 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.
Service and service type
Royley 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.
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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and gathered feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account in making our judgements in this report. We used all of the information to plan our inspection
During the inspection
During the inspection we looked at a variety of records, including multiple care records, four medicines records and three staff recruitment files. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance and monitoring systems, policies and minutes of staff meetings. We spoke with the registered manager and three members of the care team. The Expert by Experience spoke with nine relatives on the telephone.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at several other documents, including training records and staff rotas.
Updated
17 December 2021
About the service
Royley House care home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 41 people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 13 people living at the home. The home is an adapted building set in its own grounds with accommodation over two floors. Only the ground floor was occupied at the time of this inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Medicines were managed safely. Improvements had been made in staff knowledge, understanding and use of the electronic medicines system. The provider carried out recruitment checks to make sure staff were suitable to support and care for vulnerable people. There were enough staff to care for people safely. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to recognise and report abuse or neglect. Infection control practices were in place and the home was clean and well maintained.
Relatives spoke positively about the home and told us they would recommend it. Since our last inspection management of the home had stabilised and changes and improvements had been sustained and embedded in practice. Quality assurance systems to monitor the service were in place and used effectively. There were arrangements in place to make sure any accidents, incidents and complaints would be fully investigated, and people and relatives would be involved and informed of the outcome. Relatives we spoke with were happy with the way the service communicated with them, although they commented they had not been asked to complete a satisfaction survey. This is currently being devised and distributed. Staff worked well with other healthcare professionals to ensure people’s health needs were met.
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 requires improvement (published 10 August 2021). There were breaches of two regulations. At this inspection enough improvement had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions of Safe and Well led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has improved to good.
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 read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Royley House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.