Nethermoor Care Home

Updated 16 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

The first day of on-site inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. The second day was carried out by 1 inspector. A second inspector was also present who was doing training and did not gather any evidence for this 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

Nethermoor Care 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. Nethermoor Care 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for 8 weeks and had applied to register. We are currently assessing this application.

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. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with 8 people who used the service and observed how care and support was delivered. We gained feedback from 3 relatives and 6 staff. We spoke with the manager, deputy manager, and area manager. We looked at a range of records including all or part of 4 people's care records and how medicines were managed for people. We looked at staff training, and the provider's quality auditing system. During the inspection visit we asked the provider to give us additional evidence about how the service was managed, which they sent to us. We also received feedback from 4 health and social care professionals. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 16 November 2023

About the service

Nethermoor Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 33 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 31 people using the service.

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

There were areas of the building that still required maintenance to ensure they could be cleaned effectively. The provider was aware of this and was mid-way through an extensive programme of refurbishment.

People and relatives commented positively about cleanliness and recent refurbishment of many rooms. People were protected from the risk of abuse and felt safe living at Nethermoor Care Home. Staff understood how to recognise and report concerns or abuse. Medicines were generally safely managed. People’s needs were assessed, and any risks associated with their personal care and environment documented. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

People's needs and choices were assessed in line with current legislation and guidance in ways that helped to prevent discrimination and followed best practice guidance to reduce risks associated with their personal care. People were supported and encouraged to have a varied diet that gave them enough to eat and drink. People were supported by staff to access healthcare services when required.

People were supported by experienced staff. Everyone we spoke with felt confident that staff had the right skills to provide a good standard to care. Staff were supported by the provider to fulfil their roles and given the training the provider identified as essential.

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.

People and relatives spoke positively about the staff team, and felt they were treated with kindness and dignity. People were supported to express their views about their personal care and daily lives and make their own decisions as far as possible. People's confidential information was kept securely.

There had been recent improvements to the range of activities offered to people, although the management team acknowledged there was still work to be done on this. People's personal care needs were planned and reviewed at regular intervals with them. None of the people we spoke with had any complaints about the service, but they knew how to complain and felt confident any issues would be addressed.

The service was well-led. The provider and manager undertook regular audits of all aspects of the service to review the quality of care. The service had a positive and open culture which achieved good outcomes for people. Staff were clear about their roles. Feedback from health and social care professionals was positive regarding the quality of care and commitment to partnership working to achieve good outcomes for people.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 10 April 2019.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about risk management, staffing levels and training, and safeguarding. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.