CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sunnyside Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse, risks were assessed and managed, medicines were given safely, and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Infection prevention arrangements were also found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this focused inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this focused inspection, although people and relatives told inspectors staff were kind and caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this focused inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, regular audits, staff support and an open response to recent safeguarding concerns. The provider had an action plan and had strengthened its systems.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but a recent night-staff culture had led to serious safeguarding concerns that the home had acted on.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced, focused inspection on 18 October 2023. They spoke with people, a relative, staff and a healthcare professional. They observed care and checked care records, medicines, staffing, training, complaints, incidents, audits and infection control.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk assessments, good infection control and appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
The inspection followed recent safeguarding concerns linked to a negative culture among night staff. Inspectors found the provider had acted promptly, including suspending relevant staff, reporting concerns and putting stronger checks and systems in place.
This was a focused inspection because it had been a long time since the previous inspection. The overall rating remained Good, the same as the rating published in November 2017.
Safeguarding
The home had safeguarding procedures and staff understood how to report possible abuse. Inspectors were satisfied that recent concerns had been investigated and addressed.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Inspectors found no missed signatures or errors, and staff had regular checks of their medicines practice.
“All medicines were given appropriately and safely. There was no missed signatures or errors.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors saw enough staff on duty. Recruitment checks, induction, training and supervision were in place.
“There were enough staff on duty at any one time to meet the needs of people who used the service.” from the report
Risk management
People's risks were assessed and reviewed when their needs changed. Records covered issues such as falls, choking, pressure ulcers and moving and handling.
“Risks to people's safety and wellbeing had been assessed, managed, and mitigated.” from the report
Management and improvement
Managers carried out audits, visited outside normal hours and discussed incidents and improvements with staff. The home also had a dementia support group and newsletter.
“The registered manager undertook audits of all areas of the service, including medicines, care plans, infection control, health and safety, emergency equipment and risk assessments.” from the report
Recent night-staff safeguarding concerns
seriousA negative culture among night staff had led to serious concerns about people's care. The provider took action, including suspending relevant staff, making referrals and introducing stronger systems, but families should ask how these changes are being monitored.
“This had resulted in serious safeguarding concerns in relation to the care people received.” from the report
- 01What exactly changed on the night staff team after the safeguarding concerns?
- 02How do managers now check the quality of care provided overnight?
- 03How are staff monitored after training, mentoring or supervision?
- 04How often are medicines, care plans, risk assessments and infection control audited, and can families see the results?
- 05How will relatives be told promptly if a safeguarding concern or serious incident affects their family member?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings were not reassessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 November 2023 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, November 2017
Sunnyside Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, but some records and safety checks needed improvement.
Inspectors visited unannounced on 9 October 2017. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and managers. They also reviewed medicines records, care plans, risk assessments, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas. People were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, and staffing levels were found to meet people's needs. Staff were trained and supported, and people and relatives mostly described staff as kind and caring.
Inspectors found some matters to improve. Accident and incident records did not always include management investigations. A thickener used in food and drinks was not stored safely, and one person's call bell was out of reach. The provider acted on some issues during or shortly after the inspection.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives mostly praised staff. Inspectors saw staff asking for people's cooperation and respecting their preferences about care and daily routines.
“It's a question of choice; nobody pressures you.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Inspectors observed medicines being given safely. Records, storage, audits and checks for nurses' medicines skills were in place.
“The medicines administration records (MAR) were correctly completed.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's individual needs and were reviewed monthly. Staff considered people's wishes when helping with movement and personal care.
“We found care planning and delivery was person-centred.” from the report
Activities and outings
The home had expanded its programme of activities, including community outings at least three times a week. People described enjoying trips, music and other events.
“The home manager told us that activities available included trips and outings at least three times a week into the local community.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used audits and an improvement plan covering areas such as medicines, infection control, care plans and health and safety. Actions were followed up.
“We found the service had achieved benefits over time from the implementation of the projects.” from the report
Accident records
needs fixingMany accident and incident reports did not include notes showing that management had investigated them. Inspectors recommended that the reporting system be reviewed.
“many of the accident and incident reports had no management investigation notes documented.” from the report
Thickener storage
seriousA container of thickener was left in a person's room in an unlocked drawer. Inspectors warned of the risk of accidental ingestion and the management team said they would act promptly.
“We discussed the importance of safe storage of thickener, due to the risk of accidental ingestion.” from the report
Call bell access
seriousOne person who needed help had a call bell clipped to the wall and out of reach. Staff moved it near the person's hand after inspectors raised the issue.
“I have to wait until someone comes. I'm in bed and I can't use the toilet.” from the report
Supervision in a communal room
minorSeven people were left alone in a sitting room for part of the morning, and staff supervision was intermittent later that morning. Inspectors still judged overall staffing deployment to be satisfactory.
“We noticed staff supervision of the room was intermittent during the rest of the morning.” from the report
Duty of candour paperwork
needs fixingFor one incident, the person was told what had happened, but a written apology and investigation details were not sent at first. The provider sent these documents shortly after inspectors raised the issue.
“Although we found the relevant person was verbally informed and facts were noted about the incident, a written apology and details of the investigation were not sent.” from the report
- 01How are accident and incident reports now investigated, and where are the management findings recorded?
- 02How do you store thickener safely so that people cannot accidentally ingest it?
- 03How do you check that every person has their call bell within reach, especially people who stay in bed?
- 04How was the change in management completed, and who is now responsible for the home?
- 05Have you introduced regular staff surveys, and what have they shown?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, with inspectors observing care and reviewing selected medicines, care plans, staff files and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 November 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 Sunnyside Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 2011.
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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