St Martins Care Home Ltd

Updated 5 November 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 carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

St Martins 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. St Martins 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 6 October 2022 and ended on 14 October 2022. We visited the location on 6 October 2022.

What we did before the 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.

During the inspection

During the inspection we observed the care and support people received throughout the day. We spoke with 4 people about their experience of the care and support provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, team leaders, care staff, Infection prevention and control (IPC) lead and activity co-ordinator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records and multiple medication records.

We also looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision, and records relating to the governance and management of the service.

After the inspection

We reviewed information received during and following the inspection. We contacted 2 health professionals including a district nurse and a doctor to ask for their feedback.

Updated 5 November 2022

About the service

St Martins Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 15 people aged 65 and over, at the time of the inspection 11 people were living there. Some people living at St Martin’s Care Home were living with dementia and others had high dependency needs due to reduced mobility.

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

Improvements had been made since the last inspection to improve some of the safety of the home environment. However further improvements were still needed, furniture that posed a risk of falling onto people had not been secured and had not been identified as a safety issue until the inspection.

People received their medicines in line with their prescribed needs. However, where medicine patches were used the recording of where the patches were sited was unclear, leading to an increased risk of people receiving too much medication.

People's care and support was person-centred and reflected people's preferences. Staff provided care that was respectful of people's dignity, privacy and human rights.

People's care plans were personalised and reflected people's own individualities and interests as well as their specific health needs.

People were protected from the risks of COVID-19 by effective infection control procedures. Staff had training in relation to COVID-19 and had access to sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). The registered manager and provider ensured that infection control procedures reflected current government guidance.

Staff had the training, skills and knowledge to meet people's needs and preferences. Staff told us that they felt supported in their roles and where additional training or support was identified as being needed this was provided.

People were referred to health professionals when needed. Health professionals were positive about the support from the management and staff in achieving positive outcomes for the people in the home.

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.

There was increased governance and oversight of risks and of people’s care and support. People and staff were positive about the management of the home.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update:

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 22 December 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to 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 St Martins 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.