Tamar House

Updated 2 August 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.

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 carried out by one inspector, a member of CQC’s medicines team and two Experts 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

Tamar 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. Tamar House 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 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 03 July 2023 and ended on 19 July 2023. We visited the location’s service on 03 July 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the 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 4 people and 11 relatives. We spoke with 7 staff including the registered manager, compliance manager, nominated individual and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 7 people’s care record and 8 medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training, and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 2 August 2023

About the service

Tamar House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 21 people. The service provides support to adults, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

Tamar House is an adapted building offering accommodation over two levels. There are various shared living areas in the home which include a lounge, a dining room and shared bathing facilities. In addition, there is a wheelchair accessible garden and patio area to the rear of the home.

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

Care plans and risk assessments were in place. Information was being reviewed and updated to ensure this was person centred and remained reflective of people’s needs. Staff were familiar of people and their needs and were knowledgeable of measures in place to mitigate risk of harm and injury.

Agency staff had been utilised to address the challenges experienced by the provider in staffing. A successful recruitment drive had taken place. Systems were in place to ensure recruitment was safe. Staff received training to equip them for their role. The registered manager conducted daily walks of the home and regular checks of staff competency. This provided assurance of the staff skill, knowledge and safe delivery of care and support.

People and their relatives told us the care provided by staff reassured them and made them feel safe. A relative said, “My [family member] is absolutely safe. The staff and care is second to none. I’ve been in other homes, and I believe this one is the best.”

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.

Quality assurance processes were in place. The registered manager analysed findings of audits and took actions to address shortfalls. An action plan was in place to support with driving continual improvement to the standard of care provided.

People, their relatives and staff found the registered manager to be approachable and were confident they would be listened to. A staff member told us, “[Registered manager] is very approachable and values everybody. They are one of the best we have had.”

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

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 11 May 2018).

Why we inspected

We received concerns related to the staffing and management of the service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

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.

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 Tamar 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.