Bedhampton Nursing Home and Specialist Care Unit

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Bedhampton Nursing Home and Specialist Care Unit following an inspection on April 11-12, 2023. The inspection assessed how well the service was managed, its safety, effectiveness, caring approach, and responsiveness to residents' needs. The home provides personal and nursing care for up to 35 individuals, catering to older adults and those with sensory impairments or physical disabilities across two floors. While the report highlights some positive aspects, it also identifies key areas requiring improvement to ensure consistent quality and safety for all residents.

On safety, risks to residents' health and well-being were not always properly assessed or managed, potentially placing individuals at risk of harm. Short-term care plans, particularly for wounds, sometimes lacked sufficient detail, and there were instances where policies for medicines and safeguarding were not fully followed. However, the home demonstrated robust infection prevention and control measures and a commitment to safe recruitment practices.

In terms of how effective the care is, instructions from medical professionals were not always consistently recorded or communicated to staff, impacting the delivery of up-to-date support. While staff had the necessary skills for practical duties, regular supervisions and competency checks had not always taken place as planned. On a positive note, residents expressed satisfaction with the food choices, and the building was well-adapted to meet diverse needs.

The service was found to be caring, with residents and relatives describing staff as kind and knowledgeable about individual preferences. Staff were noted to be focused on residents' well-being, treating them with dignity and respect, and supporting them to make choices about their daily lives. Equality and diversity training was a mandatory part of staff induction, ensuring a respectful environment.

Regarding how responsive the service is, while people felt safe, there were concerns about the consistent assessment and management of risks, which could impact timely support. The service has been directed to consult local safeguarding policies to strengthen its procedures for identifying, managing, and referring safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate external scrutiny.

In terms of how well-led the service is, the absence of a registered manager at the time of inspection, along with issues in the provider's monitoring processes, meant that shortfalls were not always identified and addressed promptly. This led to inconsistencies in care delivery and staff support. However, the provider demonstrated responsiveness to address immediate concerns raised during the inspection.