We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Heathers Nursing Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Heathers Nursing Home, you can give feedback on this service.
The building was large with accommodation over a single floor. There was a large lounge and a number of other smaller lounges which could be used if people wished to have a quieter area to sit. Corridors were moderately wide which allowed for wheelchair use. There was a purpose-built dining area which could accommodate a maximum of eighteen people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Risks such as falls, choking, malnutrition, and skin integrity were managed safely, although record keeping needed to improve.
People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who were competent. Some written information available to assist staff giving people their medicines needed updating and clarification.
Recruitment systems were in place, but some improvements were required to ensure systems were robust and staff were suitable for the role.
Staffing levels were regularly reviewed, and the deployment of staff was effective. Some people however told us that staffing levels could be improved at certain times of the day. A recent situation had impacted on staff response times, in addition to staff sickness, but we saw that the registered manager was addressing this.
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. However, some records held contradictory information in relation to decisions which had been made for people.
People's nutritional and healthcare needs were met. People and relatives praised the staff for being kind and caring. We saw staff treated people with respect. People enjoyed a range of activities. Systems were in place to manage complaints.
The home was clean, and some areas had been refurbished, though further work was needed to make the environment suitable for people living with dementia. We have made a recommendation about this.
People, relatives and staff felt the home was well run. The registered manager responded promptly to any issues we raised during the inspection. Governance systems were in place, but some audits needed to be more robust and detailed. The registered manager had already identified this as requiring improvement and was reviewing these.
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 Good (published 6 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
The Heathers Nursing Home provides nursing care for up to 45 people, some of whom may be living with dementia or a physical disability. At the time of this inspection there were 36 people living in the home. Accommodation is over a single story and people benefit from a number of communal areas and gardens.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service had procedures in place that minimised the risk of employing people not suitable to work with those that used the service. Staff received an induction, ongoing training and regular support to ensure they had the appropriate skills and knowledge to perform their role.
We saw that staff worked well as a team, were supportive of each other and contributed to a positive culture within the home. This all helped to ensure that the service was warm, welcoming and effective. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs in an individual and unhurried manner.
Care and support was delivered in a kindly and respectful manner. The service understood the need to make people feel valued, in control of their care and empowered. Humour and laughter were used to build relationships and people had confidence in the staff.
People’s privacy was respected and dignity considered in all aspects of the service provided. Independence was promoted and people were supported to make choices. Staff understood people’s backgrounds and life histories and how these might impact on the support they required.
Procedures were in place to help protect people from the risk of abuse and staff had knowledge of these. Risks to individuals, staff and visitors had been identified, assessed and managed with preventative measures considered and implemented. Accidents and incidents were recorded and used to minimise future risk. People received their medicines as prescribed and good practice guidance was followed.
The CQC is required to monitor the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. The service had a robust knowledge of this legislation and fully adhered to its principles. It understood the importance of its implementation.
People were fully involved in the planning of the care and support they received and any changes required in order to meet their developing needs. People received care that was individual to them and that had been considered and discussed in order to provide the best holistic outcomes for them. Care plans were person centred and clearly demonstrated a service that put those who used the service at the centre of decisions.
Nutritional needs were met and people had access to healthcare provision. The service was proactive and preventative in their approach to these needs. Healthcare and community professionals had confidence in the home and told us that it delivered a good quality service.
The service provided varied activities and we saw that people engaged in these. People were supported to follow their interests. Staff knew those they supported well and had developed meaningful and trustful relationships with people and their families and friends who were welcome at any time.
The registered manager demonstrated knowledge, accountability and passion in their role. They had an ethos of open-mindedness and were proactive in order to make the service the best it could be and was motivated in doing so. They openly welcomed suggestions and sought feedback to drive improvement. Regular audits were in place to assist in assessing and monitoring the quality of the service.
People had confidence in how the service was managed and told us that the registered manager was visible, approachable and helpful. People told us they were happy living in The Heathers Nursing Home and would recommend the service.