Croston Park

Updated 1 August 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

Two Inspectors, 1 medicines inspector and 1 Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. 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

Croston Park is a ‘care home’ with nursing. 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. 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 the manager was in the process of registering with CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from Healthwatch, the local authority and professionals who work with the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 16 members of staff including the manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with senior carers, carers, housekeeping staff and the cook. We also spoke with the activities co-ordinator, administrator, maintenance staff and members of the senior management team. We had a walk around the home to make sure it was homely, suitable, and safe. We observed the care and support people received. This helped us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 14 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. After the visit we received feedback from 1 health professional who had visited the home on a regular basis.

Updated 1 August 2023

About the service

Croston Park is a nursing and residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 43 people at the time of our inspection. The service can support up to 56 people who have a range of residential and nursing needs, including older people and people living with dementia.

The home is a seventeenth century grade II listed building in its own grounds which has been suitably adapted for its purpose. Bedrooms are located over 3 floors with lift access to the upper floors. Most of the bedrooms are ensuite. The ground floor includes the dining room and several communal lounge areas and access to the outside garden and grounds.

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

Medicines were stored and administered safely. People were supported safely, and the provider had plans in case of emergencies. The home was clean and hygienic, and staff were seen to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Staff were employed following a safe and robust recruitment process. Safeguarding training was mandatory, and staff were aware of the processes to follow to enable people to keep safe.

Staff felt supported by the management team and the induction and ongoing training they received. 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. Mealtimes were relaxed and organised around people's individual daily routines. People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met. The service worked in partnership with other organisations to ensure they followed good practice and people in their care were safe.

Staff were caring, respected people's differences and promoted their independence. Staff knew people well and delivered care according to people's specific needs.

People were encouraged to stay active as much as possible and engage among each other in activities organised by staff. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint, and felt they could raise any issues with the registered manager. Staff felt able to raise concerns if they needed to. The provider was able to offer people dignified end of life care, that met people's needs.

The provider had various methods to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service. People and staff told us there was a very positive culture at Croston Park. The management team positively engaged in the inspection process and the manager clearly understood their regulatory responsibilities. The provider and management team had been responsive in implementing positive change and working with health and social care professionals to improve people’s quality of life.

Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 25 January 2023) 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.

Why we inspected

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.

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 Croston Park 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.