Hampden Hall Care Centre

Updated 12 October 2021

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 was carried out by two inspectors and one specialist advisor on day one and two inspectors on day two. A medicines expert reviewed medicines management documentation. Two Experts by Experience telephoned people and their relatives to gain their feedback. 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

Hampden Hall Care Centre 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 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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 14 people who used the service and 17 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 27 members of staff including care workers, agency care workers, activities, kitchen, domestic and maintenance staff, the provider, registered manager, deputy manager, unit managers and nurses. We observed staff supporting people to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with two visiting healthcare professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 15 people’s care records and multiple medication records and pre-admissions assessments. We looked at three staff and multiple agency staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 12 October 2021

About the service

Hampden Hall Care Centre is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 113 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 120 people. Accommodation is provided on three floors in one adapted building. People living with dementia reside on the ground floor. Nursing care is provided on the first floor with both nursing and residential care on the second floor.

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

People’s care and support was provided in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment which met people's sensory and physical needs. People’s¿risks¿were assessed¿regularly¿in a¿person-centred¿way and medicines were safely managed. People were protected¿from abuse and poor care. The¿service had¿enough¿appropriately skilled¿staff to meet¿people’s¿needs and keep them safe.¿¿¿

People received¿care, support and treatment from trained staff and specialists able to meet their needs and¿wishes.¿Managers ensured that staff¿had¿relevant¿training,¿regular¿supervision and appraisal.¿People’s care, treatment and support plans,¿reflected¿their sensory, cognitive and functioning needs.¿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 told us they received¿kind and compassionate care from staff who protected¿and respected¿their privacy and dignity and understood each person’s individual needs.¿For instance, “The staff are caring, supportive and understanding of their needs. They seem gentle with them and I don't have any fears.”¿People and¿those important to them¿were involved in planning their care.¿¿

People made¿choices and¿took part in¿meaningful¿activities which were part of their¿planned care and support. People had¿their communication needs met and information was shared in a way that could be understood.¿

Governance systems ensured people were kept safe and responded to people's feedback to drive continuous improvement and development.¿People and relatives were positive about the leadership of the service, for example, “It's a very calm and quiet atmosphere. Everyone is friendly there. I would recommend this home because it's a well-managed place”.

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 August 2019). 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

The inspection was prompted in part by notification of a specific incident. Following which a person using the service died. Preliminary investigations were undertaken by CQC to establish if the concerns met the threshold of a specific incident. It did not meet the threshold, but we shared our concerns with the provider in order that they could address the areas identified and make improvements.

The information CQC received about the incident indicated concerns about the management of choking. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and effective sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hampden Hall Care Centre 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.