Ralphland Care Home

Updated 9 July 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

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors 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

Ralphland Care Home 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. Ralphland Care Home 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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 who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and ten relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers, care workers, the cook and nominated individual. 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 four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 9 July 2022

About the service

Ralphland Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 22 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 39 people.

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

There were organisational governance processes in place to monitor the quality of the service. However, these were not always operated robustly as they did not identify concerns found on inspection.

Risks were not always managed. Environmental and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures were not effective posing additional risks to people.

Nutritional needs were not always documented correctly, with conflicting information. Mealtime practices posed a risk to people who required a modified diet.

Care plans detailed how to support the person to ensure their assessed needs could be met. We found some clear plans required further work to ensure they contained current up to date information to meet people’s needs. The provider was in the process of changing their electronic care planning systems.

Safe recruitment systems and processes were in place, with relevant background checks completed. Training was provided for staff to ensure they could carry out their role safely and effectively, any gaps had been identified and addressed by the registered manager.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe. People and staff provided positive feedback on the management of the service. Staff showed a caring approach to how they supported people.

Staff had received safeguarding training and were able to demonstrate their understanding and responsibilities to reduce the risk of harm to people

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.

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 inspection for this service (published 26 August 2021) was a targeted due to concerns raised regarding contingency planning in the event of an emergency. We found the provider was in breach of regulation 17. This was a targeted inspection and we did not review entire key questions; therefore, we did not review the rating at this inspection. The provider completed an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection the provider remains in breach of regulations.

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 16 June 2021). The service remains rated requires improvement.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to check whether the provider had met the breaches of Regulations 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated activities) Regulations 2014 and that the Warning Notice we previously served had been met. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains Requires Improvement.

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.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ralphland Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to risk management, infection control measures and governance processes at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.