Background to this inspection
Updated
19 December 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.
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 team consisted of one 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
Verwood 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. We spoke with a representative for the home from the car park to discuss the safety of people, staff and inspectors with reference to Covid-19.
Inspection activity started on 24 November 2020 and ended on 7 December 2020.
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 and professionals who work with 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 nine relatives by telephone about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including operations staff who support the home, the registered manager, clinical lead, nurses and care staff whilst we were on site. We looked at a range of records. These included sections from two people’s care and medication records and records relating to the management of the service.
Due to the pandemic, we reduced the time we spent in the home and continued the inspection remotely. This meant the registered manager sent us a variety of records, electronically, relating to the management of the service, staff training and supervision, quality assurance and some policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the service to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We had discussions with the registered manager via email and the telephone and we contacted all the staff via email to seek their views of the service. Eight staff gave us their feedback about the service and we also received information from one professional.
Updated
19 December 2020
About the service
Verwood House is a purpose-built nursing home registered to provide care for up to 42 people. The home was divided into four separate living units. At the time of our inspection there were 13 people living there. This was due to a major refurbishment taking place. The people living in the home had complex care needs associated with their dementia.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Since the last inspection, the ownership of the registered provider had changed.
At the last inspection, we found a breach in regulations relating to systems to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. These issues had been fully addressed at this inspection.
Care was personalised and met individual needs. Staff knew people very well, cared about them and understood their care and support needs as well as the risks people faced.
People’s needs were regularly assessed and reviewed in detail and action was taken to respond to people's changing needs. People received their medicines when they were needed and in ways that suited them.
There were enough staff to meet people's needs. Safe recruitment practices were followed, and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. We have made a recommendation about one of the checks that is completed.
Staff received induction training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles positively and effectively. They had also completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor practice.
Following a recent programme of refurbishment, the home was well decorated, furnished and equipped. Staff understood the importance of cleanliness and infection control. The home was clean and well maintained throughout and appropriate measures had been put in place to manage the risks associated with Covid-19.
The service had a quality assurance system in place to enable the quality of care people received to be monitored. There were numerous audits and checks carried out. Information from these was analysed and where any issues or concerns had been identified, action had been taken to address these.
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 requires improvement (published 2 November 2018). At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to people not receiving the care they needed and staffing. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well led only.
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.
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 found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from the concerns that were raised with us. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Verwood House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.