Arbor House

Updated 10 September 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

This inspection was completed by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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

Arbor House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Arbor House is a care home without nursing care. Care Quality Commission 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 the 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people and 10 relatives of people living at the service. We spoke with the registered manager, the operations manager, two area managers and nine members of staff. This included care team leader, care staff, administrator, cook, assistant cook, house-keeping staff and maintenance staff. We spoke with two visiting health care professionals, and received feedback from another two health professionals and the local authority who work with the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 10 September 2022

About the service

Arbor House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 40 people. The service provides support to older people and those living with dementia related needs, physical disabilities or end of life care. Accommodation is in one adapted building over two floors. At the time of our inspection there were 38 people using the service.

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

People and their relatives felt the service was safe. People were cared for by staff who were trained to promote people’s safety and understood safeguarding procedures. 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.

Risks to people’s lives had been assessed and kept under review. Care plans were person centred and staff understood how to manage risks to people. Medicines were administered by trained staff, in a safe manner. Staff worked in partnership with health care professionals to promote good outcomes.

Safe staff recruitment processes were followed. Staff were trained in their roles. There were enough staff working within the service to keep people safe. Staff received feedback on their performance through regular supervisions.

Environmental risks were assessed, and the premises and equipment used to promote people’s safety were clean and well maintained. Staff followed infection prevention control measures to ensure the risk of infection was managed.

Feedback received from people, relatives and staff about the registered manager was positive. All felt the service was well run and the registered manager was approachable and responsive.

Systems and processes to monitor the quality of the service were robust and action was taken when any problems were found. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and changes were made to reduce further risk and improve the quality of care and support.

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 February 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about managing risks associated to people’s safety. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe and Well-led sections of this full report.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has remained good, based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Arbor House 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.