Blencathra House

Updated 30 June 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors, 1 of whom specialised in medicines and an Expert by Experience who carried out observations and spoke with relatives to gain their feedback about the service. 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

Blencathra House 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. Blencathra House is a care home with 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 23 May 2023 and ended on 1 June 2023. We visited the service on 23 and 26 May 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the home. 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 staff including the registered manager, care staff and activities staff. We spoke with 8 people and 4 relatives about their views of the care provided. We reviewed the care records for 3 people, numerous medicines records, 4 staff recruitment and supervision files, records related to governance systems and processes and other documentation relevant to the running of the service. 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 30 June 2023

About the service

Blencathra House is a care home providing personal care to up to 30 people. The home provides support to older adults and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people living at the home.

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

The registered manager and staff were open and honest, in dealing with concerns raised. The manager was competent and met required regulatory responsibilities. There was a positive culture within the home that people and their relatives had commented on. Effective governance systems were in place to ensure oversight and monitoring of the home. However, we did identify some recording issues.

We have made a recommendation about record keeping.

Staff knew how to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. Medicines were managed safely and risks to people were managed by staff following suitable risk assessments. The provider carried out the relevant assessments on the home to ensure people were safe to live there. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and staff were recruited safely. Staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection and the home was kept clean.

People were offered choices during mealtimes and enjoyed the food provided in the home. The home ensured people had access to health care professionals when required and any necessary referrals were being made.

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 their relatives told us people received good care from staff who were friendly and kind.

Care plans were up to date, regularly reviewed and person centred to ensure people’s preferences and choices were being upheld. People were encouraged to visit the home and spend time with their loved ones. People told us they enjoyed the activities provided within the home and often went out on trips.

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

This service was registered with us on 14 February 2023, and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 23 and 26 May 2023.

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.