Background to this inspection
Updated
26 February 2021
The inspection
We carried out this focused inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) 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 Act under the domains of safe and well-led, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide 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
This inspection was undertaken by three 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 service.
Service and service type
Ridgewood Court Care Home is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The previous registered manager left in October 2020.
Having a registered manager, means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. A new manager had been appointed and was in the process of registering with CQC. The new manager had only been in post ten days prior to our inspection.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced half an hour prior to the inspection. This was because infection control arrangements had to be agreed with the provider prior to our visit to mitigate the risk of any cross contamination or transmission of the Covid 19 virus.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We contacted both the Local Authority and the NHS infection Control Team to gain their feedback on 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who lived in home. We spoke with the new manager, the deputy manager, the regional manage , a senior carer and the wellbeing co-ordinator. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records, a sample of medication records, three staff recruitment files and records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
26 February 2021
About the service
Ridgewood Court Care Home provides accommodation for up to 60 people who need help with their personal care. At the time of the inspection 43 people lived in the home. Some of the people living in the home, lived with dementia.
People's experience of using this service
The majority of people’s risks were assessed. However, information and guidance for staff to follow with regards to people’s medical conditions including those associated with mental health was limited. Medication management although overall satisfactory, required improvement in some areas. For example, records relating to prescribed creams and thickeners were not always clear. We spoke with the manager and regional manager about these issues and they told us they would address these areas immediately.
People’s daily records showed that they received the care and support identified in their care plan. People looked well looked after, relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff.
Accident, incidents and any safeguarding events were properly investigated and reported with actions put into place to prevent it happening again.
Staff recruitment was safe and there was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People told us they felt safe and well looked after. They told us staff did a good job.
The home and the equipment in use was safe and properly maintained.
Good infection control procedures were in place to prevent and mitigate the risk of Coronavirus. There were sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and we saw staff wearing this appropriately.
The systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service were satisfactory and enabled the provider to identify where improvements to the service were required. People’s feedback on the support they received had been sought with excellent results.
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 April 2019).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to infection control and staffing levels. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
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.
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.
Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has not changed and remains ‘good’. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.