Netherclay House

Updated 17 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

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors

Service and service type

Netherclay 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. Netherclay House 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 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 quality and contracts team and the safeguarding team. 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

At the beginning of the inspection we asked the registered manager to display our poster asking staff and relatives to share their views.

We met people who lived at the home and spoke with 13 of them about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with 2 relatives and 2 professionals visiting the service. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, a provider representative, care and activity staff and ancillary staff, including the cook, the maintenance person, the administrator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and a selection of medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment, along with a selection of agency staff records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including fire safety, maintenance records, staff rotas, minutes of staff meetings and audits were also viewed.

Following the site visits, we received feedback from 4 relatives and 3 professionals who had worked with the service.

Updated 17 February 2023

About the service

Netherclay House is a residential care home for 41 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. There are 35 bedrooms in the main building, as well as five apartments in the grounds. There were 35 people living at the service at the time of inspection.

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

The registered manager had identified that accurate records and record keeping was an area for improvement. They were taking immediate action to address shortfalls and implement new care plans.

There were some gaps in recruitment records. The provider took steps during the inspection to obtain full employment histories from 2 members of staff.

The premises needed some internal and external updates. The registered manager shared the action place in place to update the premises.

There were enough trained and experienced staff on duty to meet people’s needs in a timely way. People said staff responded quickly when they used their call bells. One person said, “If I ring the bell they come in a nice time”.

Staff knew people well and risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing had been identified. People said they felt safe at Netherclay House, and shared examples with us. Comments included, “I feel very well and well looked after”.

People were protected from the risk of abuse as there were systems in place to reduce the risk. People confirmed staff were considerate and kind in their approach. Accident and incidents were managed safely. The registered manager had oversight of accidents and incidents and used this information to drive service improvements. People’s medicines were managed safely. Records confirmed people received their medicines as prescribed.

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 and their relatives were complimentary about staff and of the care provided. Staff supported people in a personalised way and respected people's choices and decisions. Staff were kind and respected people’s dignity and privacy.

People’s health and wellbeing was monitored. People were given the support they required to meet their nutritional needs and most told us they enjoyed the food offered to them. People had access to a range of activities and were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them.

The provider had an effective complaints process in place. Feedback was sought and acted on.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. When areas of improvement were identified, actions were in place to address them.

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 the service under the previous provider at the premises was good, published on 02 March 2018

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection of a new provider. A new provider registered with us on 18 April 2019 and this is the first comprehensive inspection. A focused inspection was completed on 20 January 2021 and rated safe and well led as good.

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.

Recommendations

We have recommended the provider continue to develop accurate and up to date records (care plans) to ensure people continue to receive the care they need in a way they prefer.

Follow up

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