Archived: Alexandra Care Home

Updated 18 August 2017

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 was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 20 July 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team was made up of two inspectors, a specialist professional advisor and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience in this type of service. This was to help facilitate the inspection and make sure that people who used the service were able to talk with us. The specialist professional adviser was a nurse who reviewed care plans and provided specialist advice on the care provided at Alexandra Care Home.

Before the inspection we reviewed, information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us.

During the inspection we spoke with six people who lived at the home, ten relatives, six care staff, four nurses, two activity coordinators, the deputy and registered manager. We looked at care plans relating to seven people and three staff files and a range of other relevant documents relating to how the service operated. These included monitoring data, training records and complaints and compliments.

Updated 18 August 2017

The inspection took place on 20 July 2017 and was unannounced. At our last inspection on 20 April 2015, the service was found to be meeting the required standards in the areas we looked at. Alexandra Care Home provides residential and nursing care for up to 76 elderly people who may live with dementia. At the time of our inspection 74 people were living at the home.

There was a manager in post who had registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were supported to take their medicines by trained staff. However these medicines were not consistently dispensed safely. Medicine audits had not identified the issues found. However the registered manager took immediate action.

People felt safe at Alexandra Care Home. Staff had received training in how to safeguard people from abuse and knew how to report concerns, both internally and externally.

Safe recruitment practices were followed to help ensure that all staff were suitably qualified and experienced. Arrangements were in place to ensure there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff available at all times to meet people’s needs.

Where potential risks were identified there was involvement of other professionals to help ensure people were safe.

Staff received training and refresher updates relevant to their roles and had regular supervision meetings to discuss and review their development and performance.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to health and social care professionals when necessary. People were provided with a healthy balanced diet that met their individual needs.

Staff obtained people’s consent before providing personal care and support, which they did in a kind and compassionate way. Staff had developed positive and caring relationships with the people they cared for.

People were involved in the planning, delivery and reviews of the care and support provided. Confidentiality of information held about people’s medical and personal histories was securely maintained throughout the home.

People received personalised care and support that met their needs and took account of their preferences. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s background histories, preferences, routines and personal circumstances.

People were supported to take part in meaningful activities relevant to their needs.

Complaints were recorded and responded to in line with the service policy. People, relatives and staff were complimentary about the registered manager and how the home was run and operated.