Balmoral Care Home

Updated 2 April 2022

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

On the first day the inspection was undertaken by 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. The second day was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Balmoral Care Home 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. Balmoral Care Home is a care home without nursing care. The Care Quality Commission (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 CQC. 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 Healthwatch about 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 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

We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives of people living at the service. We spoke with the registered manager, provider, deputy manager, cook, maintenance person, activity coordinator and three care workers. We reviewed a range of records. These included care records, records relating to medicines, staff recruitment, training and supervision, building maintenance, cleaning and equipment checks, accident and incidents and safeguarding logs and policies and procedures for infection control. Also a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 2 April 2022

About the service

Balmoral Care Home is a residential home that was providing personal care for up to 33 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. At the time of the inspection there were 25 people living in the home.

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

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.

Staff had received training in safeguarding and were aware of their responsibilities. People told us they felt safe. Safe systems of recruitment were in place and there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Risks were well managed. Medicines were stored and administered safely. The home was very clean, and the risks associated with COVID-19 were well managed. People were supported to have visitors as per government guidance.

Staff received the induction, training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively. People's needs were assessed before they started to live at the home. Their nutritional and health needs were met.

Staff were observed to have a kind and caring, unrushed approach. People were positive about the staff and the support they received. They told us staff were caring and kind and treated them with respect. One person said, “I feel that we are treated with dignity here and the carers speak to us nicely and with respect. Privacy is respected too, for example I can see people in my room in private.”

Clear support plans and risk assessments were in place to guide staff on the support and care people needed. There was a programme of improvements to the decoration, furnishings and fittings underway. There were activities on offer within the home and plans to reintroduce and offer new activities were in place. Complaints were well managed. People's wishes for end of life care and support were identified and respected.

There were systems of quality assurance checks and audits. People spoke highly of the registered manager and the way the service was managed and organised. The registered manager was committed to providing a person-centred service, staff shared this commitment.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 10 October 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 11 March 2019.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection of this service under a newly registered provider.

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.

Follow up

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