CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Sparrowfields
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, up-to-date risk assessments, safe medicines systems and good infection control. Incidents and accidents were recorded and reviewed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and supported people with consent, food and healthcare. Ask for an update on the liberty authorisation that was awaiting a response at the inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well, treated them with respect and supported their choices, privacy, relationships and personal preferences.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were individual and reviewed monthly. People were supported with meaningful activities, community access and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- A registered manager was in post, staff felt supported and quality checks were being used. This addressed management weaknesses found at the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with one liberty authorisation still awaiting a decision.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 and 25 July 2018. Inspectors spoke with all six people living at the home, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff files, incident records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, well-managed risks, safe medicines systems and good support with health, food and activities.
People were treated with respect and involved in their care. Inspectors saw calm, friendly relationships and support for independence. Complaints were investigated, and people could take part in activities that mattered to them.
The previous inspection in January 2017 had found a breach involving an unlawful restriction of liberty and weaknesses in management oversight. Inspectors said the required improvements had been made, although one person's renewed authorisation was still awaiting a response during this inspection.
Safe staffing and risk support
Inspectors found enough staff and saw that risks were assessed and reviewed. Staffing could be adjusted for activities and appointments.
“We saw that people were supported by sufficient numbers of staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people's needs and preferences. People appeared relaxed, and staff supported privacy, dignity and relationships.
“It was evident that people had developed positive relationships with staff and there was a friendly, calm relaxed atmosphere within the home.” from the report
Choice and independence
People helped plan their care and daily lives. They were supported to use the community, follow interests and make choices about food and activities.
“People were encouraged to maintain their independence and live active and fulfilling lives.” from the report
Improved management
A registered manager was in post, and the provider had systems to monitor safety and quality. The report says the previous management problems had been addressed.
“At this inspection we found that the provider had made the required improvements and rated the service as Good.” from the report
Liberty authorisation awaiting a response
needs fixingAt the inspection, one person's liberty was restricted and the authorisation had expired. The home had reapplied and was waiting for the local authority's response, so families should check the current position.
“One person's liberty was being restricted and the authorisation for this had expired.” from the report
- 01What is the current legal status of any restriction on my relative's liberty, and has the required authorisation now been granted?
- 02How will you review my relative's risk assessments if their needs or behaviour change?
- 03How will my relative be supported to keep their independence and take part in activities they enjoy?
- 04How often will my relative and their family be involved in reviewing the care plan?
- 05How are medicines that are given as needed monitored, including decisions about when they should be given?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and the care, accommodation and management of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 August 2018 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, May 2017
Sparrowfields was rated Requires Improvement; care was safe, kind and responsive, but liberty safeguards and management needed improvement.
Inspectors made two unannounced visits on 25 January and 1 February 2017. They spoke with all six people living at the home, staff, managers, relatives and health professionals. They also checked care plans, medicines records, staff files, incident records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for safe, caring and responsive care. People were generally safe, treated with kindness and dignity, involved in their care, and supported to enjoy activities and access healthcare. Improvements had been made to risk management and medicines, following concerns at the previous inspection.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for effective care and being well-led. One person's liberty was restricted without the required legal authority, and there had been no registered manager for almost 12 months. The overall rating was Requires Improvement, and the provider was asked to take action.
Risk management
Inspectors found that risks were recorded and managed more effectively than at the previous inspection. Staff understood the risks people faced and the support required.
“Risks to people had been assessed, recorded and well managed.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff had training and practical knowledge about people's complex needs. Health professionals also praised the team's knowledge and experience.
“People were supported by staff who were positive about the training they had received.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were supported to take part in activities inside the home and in the community, based on their interests and choices.
“People benefitted from the provision of activities which were based on their interests and needs and that encouraged stimulation and participation.” from the report
Liberty restrictions were not lawful
seriousOne person's liberty was restricted after the authorisation had expired. The home had not considered or recorded whether less restrictive options were possible. This was a breach of Regulation 13(5).
“Depriving a person of their liberty for the purpose of receiving care or treatment without lawful authority is a breach of Regulation 13(5)” from the report
No registered manager
needs fixingThe home had been without a registered manager for almost 12 months. A new manager had been appointed and was applying to the Commission, but the absence placed the provider in breach of its registration conditions.
“There was no registered manager in post.” from the report
Temporary privacy problem
needs fixingOne person's bedroom had no window covering for several weeks, which did not protect their dignity. A temporary cover was provided during the inspection and a longer-term order had been placed.
“During the inspection it came to our attention that one person had no window covering at their bedroom window” from the report
- 01Has the manager now become registered with the CQC, and if not, what is the current position?
- 02How do you check that any restriction on a person's liberty has the correct authorisation before it is used?
- 03How do you make sure restrictions are reviewed and that less restrictive options have been considered?
- 04What changes have been made to prevent a repeat of the previous medicines errors?
- 05How do you ensure people's privacy and dignity are protected while longer-term repairs or adaptations are arranged?
This was an unannounced inspection of the home's overall quality, covering all five CQC questions, with visits on two dates and discussions with all six people living there. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 May 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Sparrowfields
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2018Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 December 2010.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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