Eastcroft Nursing Home

People received safe care and treatment from staff who understood their healthcare needs and followed healthcare guidance from professionals. Staff knew how to safely support people around their individual risks.

At the last inspection in January 2023 the provider was in breach of regulations because they failed to ensure people received safe care and treatment, to review and learn from incidents and accidents and to safely manage medicines. At the time, staff had not received all the training required for them to be competent for their roles. The provider made significant improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations at this assessment.

The provider introduced a system which gave them oversight of developing trends and themes in accidents and incidents. This enabled them to provide necessary additional training to staff or to seek external support to manage recurrent themes.

Staff were competent and deployed to meet fluctuating needs of people and in such a way as to monitor those cared for in their rooms. Staff recruitment process was safe and there were enough staff to provide timely and safe care.

The provider ensured people were safe and received care which met their individual needs, protected their rights and safeguarded them from abuse and neglect.

The manager adjusted staffing levels to respond to people’s changing needs. The home environment was safe.

Medicines were managed safely by competent nursing staff. People were protected from the spread of infections.

Staff assessed people’s needs which ensured care supported good outcomes to people and involved them. Their care, support and treatment reflected these needs and any protected equality characteristics. People were at the centre of their care and staff worked well with other services. Leaders supported a culture of improvement, where understanding current outcomes and exploring best practice was part of everyday work.

At the last inspection in January 2023 the provider was in breach of regulations because they failed to ensure people’s care was provided in a person-centred way. At the time, staff had not always acted in accordance with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The provider made significant improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations at this assessment.

The provider made improvements to the environment to meet the needs of people who lived with dementia. People’s individual needs were appropriately assessed and addressed in their care plans.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Throughout the inspection day, inspectors observed staff supported people in the least restrictive way, at the same time, ensuring people were safe.

Staff provided care to people in line with current national best practice guidance and were aware how to address people’s specific health and care needs appropriately. Staff supported people to access other health and social care services when needed, so people could live healthier lives. People experienced care which was well-coordinated as staff worked well with other services. This ensured people experienced consistent and person-centred, timely care which resulted in good outcomes.

The provider championed an inclusive and positive culture of continuous improvement. Staff supported people in a person-centred way. Leaders supported staff and collaborated with partners to deliver care that is safe, integrated, person-centred and sustainable, and to reduce inequalities. At the last inspection in January 2023 the provider was in breach of regulations because they failed to operate effective governance systems and to continuously improve the service. At the time, the provider had not always notified CQC about certain events in the home as per legal requirements. The provider made significant improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations at this assessment. The provider introduced an improved quality assurance and auditing systems and took action to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Service partners told us the provider now actively engaged with them in order to continuously improve people’s health and to address their changing care needs. The provider submitted statutory notifications to CQC in a timely manner as well as providing a monthly analysis of incidents to CQC and the local authority. Improvements such as better training and support for staff, clearer and more robust governance systems or implementation of more streamlined care recording systems were either completed or underway. The home had a supportive, empowering, and inclusive culture where equality and diversity of the people receiving care, as well as the staff team was respected and celebrated. Staff felt supported and listened to by managers and commented teamwork had improved. The management of the service had a good understanding of their responsibilities and maintained oversight of the care provision. Leaders were approachable and worked in an open and transparent way.