Enbridge House Care Home

This inspection report for Enbridge House Care Home, conducted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), provides an overview of the service's performance in key areas of care provision. The report details findings from a visit on June 29, 2022, focusing on safety and leadership within the home. While residents and their families expressed satisfaction with the care and the homely environment, the inspection identified specific areas requiring further improvement to ensure consistent quality and safety standards.

Regarding safety, while medicines are now stored securely and controlled drug record-keeping is appropriate, there's a need to refine medicine administration records and ensure up-to-date information for "as required" medications. Safety checks, particularly concerning hot water temperatures, require more consistent management, although issues identified were promptly addressed. Infection prevention measures are generally in place, but the frequency of staff testing did not always align with national guidance, and some written protocols needed updating. Safeguarding systems are robust, and staff are well-trained to protect residents from abuse.

In terms of how effective the care is, the report indicates that the service continues to build on good practices for meeting resident needs and maintains communication with external professionals for healthcare. Residents and relatives reported feeling cared for with kindness and respect, and that care was personalised.

On the caring aspect, residents and their relatives consistently provided positive feedback, describing the staff as kind and helpful, contributing to a sense of safety and making the home feel like their own. The service aims to support residents with maximum choice and control over their lives in the least restrictive way.

Concerning responsiveness, the report notes that the service is generally welcoming and allows residents to maintain relationships with loved ones through safe visiting arrangements. Staff are available to meet resident needs in a timely manner.

In the area of leadership, while there's a clear leadership team and systems for monitoring care are in place, these systems did not always identify the issues found during this inspection, suggesting a need to review audit scope. Protocols for managing COVID-19 risks also required updating to fully align with national guidance. Despite these areas for improvement, the provider demonstrated openness to feedback, and professionals noted positive changes in areas previously highlighted.