Autumn House Nursing Home

Updated 14 February 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 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

Autumn 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. Autumn House is a care home with 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.

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 about their experience of care and 3 relatives. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with 7 staff which included the registered manager, deputy manager, unit manager, senior care staff, care staff and nurses. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including medicine audits, care plan audits and the training matrix were also reviewed.

Updated 14 February 2023

About the service

Autumn House is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 67 people. The service provides support to older people some of who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 60 lived at the home.

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

People were safeguarded from abuse. There were systems in place to ensure staff understood how to recognise abuse and report any incidents. A risk assessment and care plan were put in place which were reviewed regularly. There were enough staff to follow these plans and minimise risks to people’s safety. Staff were safely recruited and suitably skilled. There was guidance for staff on how to administer medicines which were stored safely and regularly checked. Staff followed infection prevention controls to ensure risks were minimised. Learning from incidents and accidents was in place and where incidents occurred people had their care plans reviewed to prevent future incidents where possible.

Where required other professionals were engaged in providing advice. The care records system used was electronic and allowed staff to be promoted when people needed care and support and to record what had been done for people. Staff received an induction to their role and had regular updates to their training to ensure they understood how to meet people’s needs. People’s needs and preferences were assessed relating to food and drinks and we saw people enjoyed their meals. Drinks were readily available to people. Staff understood people’s health needs and people were supported to have access to health care professionals.

Staff worked as a team and collaborated with other agencies to provide people’s care. There were systems in place to ensure people received consistent care including a hand over process. The environment in the home had been adapted to meet people’s needs and there was a planned programme of updates and refurbishments ongoing at 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.

People were supported by kind and caring staff who understood their needs and supported them to make choices about their care. People were encouraged to remain independent where possible and staff ensured people were treated with dignity and respect.

People had their needs and preferences assessed and this was understood by staff and used to ensure people had person centred care. Communication needs were assessed and where required adjustments were made to help people understand information. People had their future wishes considered for death and dying and staff understood how to support people when they came to the end of their life. People and relatives were able to make complaints and told us they felt these would be addressed.

The provider had systems in place which ensured people received person centred care. There were processes in place to check on the quality of the care people received. People and relatives were involved in the service, individual meetings were held to discuss people and relatives’ views. The staff were supported in their role and had regular opportunities to discuss any training needs with the management team. The registered manager understood their responsibilities with duty of candour and had developed a learning culture in the home. Other agencies were involved in the home with people’s care and their input was included in people’s care plans and any guidance was followed by staff.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 24 April 2019)

Why we inspected

We inspected the service to follow up on concerns from the last 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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.