Background to this inspection
Updated
25 January 2020
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of an inspector, an assistant 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
Straven House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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 other bodies such as the local authority and safeguarding teams. We used all of this information to plan our 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with the deputy manager, operations manager, a nurse and three members of staff. We spent time speaking with five people who used the service, four visiting relatives and three visiting health professionals. We spent time looking round all areas of the service. We reviewed four people’s care records including medicines administration records and looked at other records relating to care and the running of the service.
After the inspection
The provider sent us additional information which we used in making our judgements.
Updated
25 January 2020
Straven House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 19 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service is located in a residential area and has accessible gardens. The service can support up to 24 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People lived in a safe, appropriately adapted environment, and any risks associated with their care and support were well managed. Medicines management and administration practices were robust. Enough safely recruited, well-trained staff were present during the day, however the operations manager said they would review night staffing levels in response to feedback gathered during the inspection.
There was good support for people who could not make decisions independently, and staff offered people choice. People had enough to eat and drink, and had good access to health services when they were not well.
Staff were caring and ensured people’s dignity and independence were maintained. People said they felt respected, and care plans were up to date and personalised according to people’s preferences. People were supported with dignity and compassion when they reached the end of their lives.
If people wished to read their care plans they were provided in a suitable format. Any concerns or complaints raised were well managed, and there were good systems in place to ensure quality was maintained in the service. People and staff were consulted in decisions about the running of the home, and we received positive feedback from other health professionals.
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
The last rating for this service was good (published 11 May 2018). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.