Cliftonville Care Home

We assessed the following quality statements: Safeguarding, Involving people to manage risks, Infection prevention and control and Medicines optimisation. People spoken with said they felt safe at Cliftonville Care Home and with the staff who supported them in a kind and caring manner. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse and told us they had received safeguarding training. Incidents were recorded, analysed, and learnt from. There was a good safety culture that encouraged staff to report these. Improvements were needed to ensure care plans and risk assessments had sufficient information and guidance for staff. The provider had identified this and was working to improve care records. Staff were working with people and relatives to be more involved in developing and reviewing their care plans. Staff had a person centred approach to medicines. The staff ensured that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences by enabling them to be involved in planning, including when changes happen. ‘When required’ PRN medicine protocols were in place to help staff give these medicines correctly. These protocols were not always detailed enough and on occasion missing from the care plan although present in the eMAR. However, the provider was working through these protocols at the time of the assessment and updating them where needed in care plans with more information. There were enough staff to support people. We observed there were enough staff available to respond to people’s needs. There was a safe recruitment process in place. People and relatives told us the home was clean and staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE). All areas of the home looked clean and smelt fresh. Staff told us they had received infection control training. Mental capacity assessments, best interest decisions and deprivation of liberty safeguards were in place where needed.

We assessed the following quality statement: Supporting people to live healthier lives. People spoken with at Cliftonville Care Home told us they knew they could see the Doctor when they need and that one visited the care home three days a week. However fewer people were as confident about accessing a dentist if they needed to. People received visits from district nurses and were supported with advocates and social workers. People were encouraged to remain independent with undertaking daily tasks such as personal care and getting their meal from the dining area. People visited the hospital when they needed to, for example to have physiotherapy. People said if they thought their condition was worsening, they would “tell the nurse”. People told us they were involved in their care planning. People comments included, “Staff explain it all to me, they are very good really” and “staff talk to me and my family”. People told us they go outside when they want to and if the weather is good and that staff support them to do that.

We assessed the following quality statement: Governance, Management and Sustainability. This means we looked for evidence that there are governance and management systems in place to assess, monitor, and improve the quality and safety of the service. At our last inspection we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the service remains requires improvement. Improvements were ongoing to ensure effective management and oversight of incidents which occurred involving people who received support. Improvements were being made to ensure records about people’s care, and medicines were up to date and accurate. The service did not have a registered manager at the time of our visit but the manager in place was in the process of making an application to the Care Quality Commission to become the registered manager. People, relatives and staff told us there had been another change in management at the service, however they all felt they had already seen improvements and it was positive. Staff understood their role and responsibilities. Managers accounted for the actions, behaviours and performance of staff. Meetings were held with people to gain their feedback about the service. One person told us, “I’ve asked if things were actioned from the last meeting I went to. Staff said they would check and I think they would consider it. You get the impression they take it on board”. Staff felt well supported in their roles by the management team. Staff told us they felt well supported by the manager who was accessible and approachable. Staff had team meetings and supervisions which were an opportunity to share important information with each other and the management of the service.