Summerdale Court Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Staff understood their role in safeguarding people and how to raise concerns about people’s safety. Risk assessments had been carried out to identify any risks to people, when providing care and support. We observed there were sufficient staff were available to meet people’s needs and a robust recruitment system was in place. Accidents and incidents were recorded in detail, and these were investigated by the deputy manager and registered manager to prevent or minimise them from happening again. People received support with their medicine which was managed safely. There were systems in place for the monitoring and prevention of infection.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We spoke with people living in the home, one person said, “I get on very well with [registered manager]. She listens to any issue. I feel I can talk to her.” Another person said, “I know who [registered manager] is, and I would be happy to talk to her if I had any issues.” One relative told us, “[registered manager] has told me to go straight to her if I have any concerns. I find this very reassuring and gives me confidence. She sorted an issue relating to pureed food.”

Staff we spoke with told us they felt confident about reporting any concerns or poor practice to their managers. One staff member told us, “Any issues I will go through the deputy manager or registered manager. They will help us to resolve any issue.”

There was a system in place to learn from lessons following incidents. The provider had systems to ensure lessons were learnt from any incidents. Where incidents and accidents occurred, they were recorded with appropriate actions taken to reduce the risk of re-occurrence. Incident and accident records showed issues were recorded, investigated and addressed quickly. There was evidence of actions taken to mitigate future risks. For example, in relation to an unwitnessed fall there were immediate actions outlined for staff to undertake. The identified the theme and trends to help mitigate future potential risks. Learnings lessons from accidents and incidents was shared with the staff team through meetings and at daily briefings. Risk assessments and care plans were reviewed to ensure they remained up to date and met the person needs in reducing the risk.

We received positive views about the quality of care provided and the involvement of other healthcare agencies. Some people shared details of all the different healthcare professionals involved in their care. One relative said, “I’ve had the dentist in, and I asked for the optician, and he was here.” Another relative said, “I am confident that they would call a doctor if I requested it.”

Positive relationships had been made with other healthcare agencies involved with people's care. The deputy manager said, “We make referrals to local authority, district nurse and speech and language therapists (SALT), so people are being cared for.” The provider gave us examples of their process on of people being referred by the local authority.

We received feedback from partners. The local authority recently completed a quality visit and shared information about the quality of care and safety of people using the service and has no concerns with Summerdale Court Care Home.

The provider told us about their processes of how they managed transitions into the home. As part of this they carried out a needs assessment to make sure that the home was a suitable match for a person looking for such a service. They shared their assessment form with us which contained a lot of important information they required before a person moved into the home.

During our visits we spoke with people living in the home. People told us that they felt safe with the staff and would feel comfortable in saying if they did not feel safe. A person said, “I don’t worry because I trust the carers to look after me.” Another person said, “I am happy here because everyone is nice to me. They are very good in the way they help me, they do everything carefully and very well. At night they come in and check on me. They knock on the door before they enter.” One relative said, “My [person] is safe here. The building is secure, there are staff around and they make sure he doesn’t wander around.”

Staff were able to explain what actions they would take if they identified any safeguarding concerns. One staff member said, “I would report to the manager, and I can also report to local authority if someone is being abused.” Staff were able to describe what whistleblowing meant and who they would report if they needed to follow this procedure. The staff we spoke to were able to describe the various forms of abuse and what this might look like if it occurred. All of the staff we spoke to told us when things go wrong, they reflect on what happened, seeking ways to ensure as far as possible there is no repeat and learn from each event.

During our visits to the home, we saw staff were able to keep people safe. We noted people being supported to do various tasks including mobilising through either walking or using mobile hoists. We observed staff taking great care and patience in supporting a group of frails elderly people.

The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures in place. These advised staff on what to do if they had concerns about the welfare of any of the people, they were providing care and support to. The provider also had a whistleblowing policy in place, and this gave guidance to staff on how they could raise concerns about any unsafe practice. A whistle blower is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organisation. Where safeguarding incidents had occurred, the registered manager had submitted the required CQC notification and safeguarding alerts without any delay and had worked in tandem with the health professionals to resolve any concerns they had.

People and their relatives were involved in the delivery of care and support being offered. Risk assessments covered specific health conditions. People were supported to go about their lives at their own pace taking all of the risks associated with them. A relative told us, "We did the care plan in April, including [person] interests and needs.” Another relative said, “I had a discussion with the home about [person] care plan in June.” Another relative said, “They take [person] to the toilet and are good with [person]. The same when they hoist [person]. They are careful and thoughtful.”

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of how to support people to do things that mattered to them, whilst also managing risks to their health and safety. Staff gave us examples of risks they managed and how they supported people to be as active as possible. One staff gave us examples of people they supported and the different physical and mental health conditions they had.

We observed staff supporting people to manage and mitigate risks for them and so help keep them safe. Some people required staff support or equipment to move around their home. We saw these people being appropriately supported by staff according to their needs.

The provider appropriately managed risks to people’s health and safety in order to keep them safe from avoidable harm. The provider had clear risk assessments in place that described the area of risk, level of risk as well as what actions staff were required to take in order to keep people safe. This included areas such as people’s risk of falls, their skin integrity as well as challenging behaviour. We saw risk assessments were reviewed every six months or sooner if people’s needs changed.

People and their relatives told us their home environments were kept safe and clutter free by their care workers. One relative told us, “The building is safe and kept clean.” One person said, “They keep my room clean and tidy.”

Staff demonstrated an understanding of ensuring people’s environments were safe. Staff told us they ensured people’s home environments were safe and looked out for hazards. The deputy manager confirmed people’s home environments were assessed for safety concerns as part of the initial assessment.

We observed the environment, premises and equipment to be safe, and well maintained. We observed people to be cared for safely. Staff followed guidance provided in care plans to manage and mitigate risks.

Systems were in place to monitor the safety of the building and equipment used. Maintenance records were up to date. Systems and records showed the service was maintaining the safety of people using the service and equipment. Fire evacuation procedures were based on each person's needs and mobility and up to date records were available.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and to provide personalised care and support. People did not raise any concerns about staffing level with us. One person said, “There are carers around and they check on me.” Another person said, “I know the carers well and who I can trust. Nighttime isn’t an issue for me. Carers will look in on me now and again throughout the night.”

There were enough staff to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff rotas had been planned to ensure people were supported by a regular team of staff so that the care and support they received was consistent. Staff confirmed there are enough staff to support people. One staff said, “Things have changed now. We now have enough staffing for each shift. We have set number that is required, I am happy with the change that the manager has implemented.” Staff undertook training to support them in their role. One staff member said, “Yes, we completed lots of training online and face to face training. We also attended training and trainers also come to this home.”

We observed sufficient staff numbers throughout the day. There were staff who were responsible for providing physical support as well as staff who were responsible for cleaning and others responsible for cooking. We saw a number of people in management posts throughout our visit who were able to give guidance and support to their team when required. We noted few activities being offered during the times we visited.

Staff were recruited safely. The required pre-employment checks were completed to help ensure staff employed were suitable. These included conducting an interview, completing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and obtaining references. The DBS helps to prevent unsuitable staff from working with vulnerable people. Records showed that staff had received training in a number of key areas relevant to their roles. The service had an induction programme for all new staff. The induction covered a number of areas, which included staff roles and responsibilities and key policies and procedures. Staff would shadow an experienced member of staff until they were confident to work on their own.

Feedback from people confirmed they were positive about the cleanliness and hygiene of the service. A person said, “They [staff] wear PPE when they are caring for me.” A relative said, “The carers wear PPE when they are doing personal care. They are good when helping [person], like they always position the pillows as they should be.”

Staff confirmed they had completed training in infection prevention and control and demonstrated a good understating of the measures to manage and prevent the spread of infection.

Observations of the environment, premises and equipment was positive. The service was clean and hygienic with no malodour. Housekeeping staff were present and observed to be following best practice guidance in cleaning tasks. PPE was available and procedures were in place to reduce the risk of cross contamination.

The provider has a robust IPC policy and procedure. The registered manager was aware of how to manage an infection outbreak safely. Cleaning schedules daily, deep cleans were completed and there was evidence these were monitored by the leadership team. Health and safety audit included checks on cleanliness and hygiene.

Feedback from people confirmed they received their prescribed medicines safely and when required. One person told us, “They [staff] give me my medication when they should.” Another person said, “I get my medicine on time, and they usually check I have taken it before they leave.”

Staff had a good understanding about their roles with regard to medicines administration. They confirmed they had received annual training and their competence to administer medicines safely was assessed. The deputy manager confirmed they worked with pharmacies and health care professionals in ensuring people had their medicines administered safely. They told us they reviewed medicines records to ensure appropriate records were being kept of the care delivered.

At our last inspection, medicines were not always managed safely. Care plans did not always have the necessary information about prescribed medicines. At this inspection, enough improvement has been made. Care plans were up to date and has important information about medicine management. On the day of inspection, we saw a registered nurse administered medication safely and efficiently without rushing people. Nurse hand hygiene was good, and gloves were worn when appropriate. People received their medication in a timely manner, there were senior health care assistant trained to administer medication so there were four people able to administer the morning medication. The provider moved from paper-based system to record the administration of medicines to a new electronic medicines administration record charts (MARs). Staff signed electronically for each medicine on the MAR after giving the medicines. Staff received annual training in medicines administration and their competency to administer medication was checked. The provider had a clear medicines administration policy and procedure in place which referenced current guidance.