The Laurels

Updated 29 June 2022

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 inspection team was made up of two inspectors.

Service and service type

The Laurels 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. The Laurels 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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 information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 24 May 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider, registered manager, senior care workers, and a care worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records. We looked at two 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. 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.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with three relatives over the telephone about their experience of the service.

Updated 29 June 2022

About the service

The Laurels is a residential care home for people living with dementia. The accommodation is spread over two floors with the main communal areas situated on the ground floor. The home is registered to support up to 23 people. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people living in the home.

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

People received a high level of care which met their needs were met. However, systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care were inconsistent. Further improvement was needed to ensure governance was organised and evidenced decisions being made regarding environmental risks and discussions with staff.

Whilst we did not find people being restricted unnecessarily, records were not fully up to date relating to people’s DoLS and processes relating to people’s mental capacity required development.

Risk associated with people’s care had been identified and assessed. People received their medicines safely. There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs. Staff followed good infection control practice and people were protected from the increased risk of infection.

Staff received training relevant to their role. People’s needs were being met in line with their care plans. People were supported to eat and drink well. Staff worked with other agencies to ensure better outcomes for people and health conditions were managed.

Relatives told us staff were extremely caring. People spoke highly of the staff and the care they received. People were encouraged to maintain and re-gain their independence. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff who knew them well.

Care records showed people’s needs, abilities and preferences. Staff supported people to communicate in different ways. Most people spoke positively about activities in the service. Staff engaged with people in a meaningful way. People, staff and relatives felt they could approach the registered manager should they wish to make a complaint. Staff were trained to deliver end of life care.

People, staff and relatives highly commended the registered manager, who encouraged an open, positive culture. Staff were empowered to deliver quality care to people. People, relatives and visiting professionals were given the opportunity to feedback regarding their experience.

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 this service was requires improvement (published 22 September 2020).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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 The Laurels on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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