Background to this inspection
Updated
3 March 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Martin Hall Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. 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
We visited the service on one occasion. We gave the provider 18 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we had prior information to promote safety.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We received feedback from the local authority team who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with a nurse, the registered manager and the regional manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
Following our visit we spoke by telephone with the relatives of three people, who used the service, about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with two members of care staff. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training records, quality audits and staffing rotas.
Updated
3 March 2021
About the service
Martin Hall Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 26 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The care home can accommodate 36 people in one purpose-built building. Included in the 36 beds are 12 transitional beds which are used to support people transfer from hospital to home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff had access to personal protective equipment. However, we found staff were not consistently adhering to best practice guidance in the use of PPE. The service was clean and there were effective cleaning schedules in place being followed by the housekeeping staff.
Quality monitoring systems were in place.
Arrangements were in place to manage and administer people’s medicines safely.
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.
The risks to people’s care were assessed and measures were in place to mitigate these risks. Environmental factors had also been risk assessed.
People were supported with adequate numbers of staff. Staff had received training for their roles. New staff were recruited safely.
Staff knew how to keep people safe from abuse and were confident to raise concerns with the registered manager or external agencies. When required, notifications had been completed to inform us of events and incidents.
Staff were supported to raise issues and kept informed of changes to practice.
People and their relatives knew how to raise a complaint and would feel confident to do so if needed.
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 the service was good, published (18 May 2018).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to staff practice. As a result, we undertook a focussed inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them.
The overall rating for the service was good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow Up
We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.