Rathmore House

Updated 29 June 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by a single inspector.

Service and service type

Rathmore House is a ‘care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Rathmore House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 10 May 2023 and ended on 26 May 2023. We visited the home on 11 May 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with the deputy manager and another senior member of the staff team. We had passing brief conversations with three people and were also introduced to the person about whom a concern was raised. We also had contact with a relative of this person. We reviewed two specific risk assessments and care planning records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We also had a meeting with other authorities that were involved in the investigation of the concern raised.

Updated 29 June 2023

Rathmore House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Rathmore House can accommodate up to twenty older people and specifically those who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were nineteen people using the service.

This unannounced inspection took place on 2 and 5 February 2018. At the last inspection on 4 February 2016 the provider was in breach of regulation 11 in respect of gaining consent and the use of deprivation of liberty safeguards. At the subsequent focused inspection on 19 May 2016 the provider had rectified the previous breach of regulation and had met all of the legal requirements. The service was at that time rated as good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were supported to consent to care and the service operated in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, consulting with people and their relatives about their wishes and needs.

Staff we spoke with understood their duty to protect the people in their care. Staff knew how to protect people from abuse, how to identify abuse and how to respond if any concerns arose. Staff also knew how to minimise potential risks to people’s health and welfare. Medicines were managed safely and administered in the correct way.

There was a suitable number of staff available to meet people’s needs. No one made any comments to suggest that they did not feel safe in the care of staff.

Care staff were well trained and the training covered the topics they needed to carry out their work and support people. The supervision and appraisal system supported them to carry out their work.

People were supported to maintain good health. The staff team obtained appropriate advice from healthcare professionals when needed.. People received a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain their health and wellbeing.

The service carried out assessments of people’s needs before they moved in. The provider took the appropriate decisions about the suitability of people to use the service. Care plans were person centred and were tailored to each person’s unique needs. Care plans were regularly reviewed and any changes to people’s needs were recognised and action was taken to respond.

The service had a clear management structure in place. The service had a range of quality assurance, consultation and monitoring systems in place. The provider listened and responded to the views of people who used the service, relatives and other health and social care professionals.