Ivybank Care Home

Updated 20 March 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector, a specialist advisor and an Expert by Experience. The specialist advisor had experience of providing nursing care to people who use this type of 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

Ivybank is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service since their last inspection. This included notifications received from the provider about deaths, accidents/incidents and safeguarding alerts which they are required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also contacted the local authority who commissioned services from this provider.

During the inspection we spoke with seven people about the support they received, six relatives and a healthcare professional. We spoke with three care staff, activities co-ordinator, chef, two of the nursing staff, the registered manager, the clinical manager and the director. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk to us. We also spent time observing day to day life and the support people were offered. We reviewed records relating to people’s medicines, six people’s care records and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 20 March 2019

About the service:

Ivybank Care Home provides nursing and personal care for up to 38 people. There were 34 people living at the home at the time of the inspection. People who used the service had a range of support needs related to old age and dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

When we completed our previous inspection in September 2017 we identified there was a breach of Regulation 17 Good Governance of the Health and Social Care Act Regulations 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014. We found on this inspection the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.

People receive safe care and staff knew how to keep them safe from harm. People received their medicines as it was prescribed. Staff followed infection control guidance and had access to personal protective equipment. Accidents and incidents were noted and trends monitored to reduce the amount of accidents.

People received effective care. Staff were supported and had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. The provider followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). People’s nutritional needs were met and they accessed health care when needed. The environment was welcoming, warm, comfortable and clean.

Staff were caring. People we spoke with were complimentary about the service and said they would recommend the home. There was a culture within the service of treating people with dignity, respect and compassion.

People received responsive care. Their support needs were assessed and planned with their involvement to ensure they received the support they needed. Support was individualised and reviewed. People were supported to take part in activities of interest and their preferences, likes and dislikes were known to staff. The provider had a complaints process which people and their relatives were aware of to share any concerns.

The registered manager was known and made themselves available. Spot checks and audits were taking place to ensure the quality of the service was maintained but we identified some additional areas which needed to be included as part of these audits.

Rating at last inspection:

Inspection September 2017 Rated Requires Improvement (Report published January 2018).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Enforcement:

No enforcement action was required.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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