Littlehampton nursing home asks for review after 'inadequate' rating by inspectors

St Joseph's Nursing Home, in East Street, Littlehampton, provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 24 people.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection was carried out on October 21 — four years after the home was rated as 'good'.

The latest report, published last week, stated that the home was 'inadequate' for safety and being well-led. Staff were told the home's effectiveness 'requires improvement'.

The inspection summary noted information in people's care records was 'not enough to help ensure safe care'.

"People were not always protected from avoidable harm as risks to people's health and safety had not been identified or assessed," the inspectors said.

"Risk management and care plans did not contain enough detail and person-centred information to accurately reflect the needs of people.

"There was a failure to assess and mitigate known risks to people such as those associated with specific health conditions, falls and choking. Processes were not in place to ensure records provided adequate information for staff to provide safe and effective care."

The report added that people were 'not always protected from the risk of abuse' because allegations of abuse were 'not reported or acted upon to prevent reoccurrence'.

People were also said to be at risk of receiving medicines they no longer needed, or risks associated with medicines given outside prescribing guidelines.

"Staff had not undergone pre-employment checks to ensure they were safe and of suitable character to work with people," the inspectors said.

St Joseph's Nursing Home said it was unable to comment on the inspection findings, as there is a legal case ongoing.

However, a spokesperson for the nursing home said that all residents are kept safe.

They added: "We have had no deaths or illnesses from Covid since the pandemic begun.

"The standard of care is good.

"We have asked for a review."

Have you read?: Sighting of 'Great White Shark' in West Sussex 'tip of outflow pipe'

New housing estate near Highdown Hill would be ‘wrong for so many reasons’

'People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives'

The inspection report noted that quality assurance and management systems were 'not effective' in monitoring care or enabling the managers to 'effectively govern the service'.

Information collated was also 'not sufficient' to provide oversight and ensure managers could analyse data or identify themes and trends from which improvements could be made.

The report added: "People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this."

'Staff knew people well'

The ratings for care and responsiveness remained as 'good'.

The report noted: "New staff members completed an induction and training which the provider considered essential to their role. Staff were experienced and some had undergone training in areas of practice in which they held a special interest and would enhance their knowledge and skills.

"Although formal supervision had not been taking place, staff told us they felt supported and had regular contact with the management team."

The inspectors found that people had been protected from the spread of infection and the Covid-19 pandemic, adding: "The managers and staff had maintained safe and effective infection, prevention and control practices which were in line with current government guidance."

People and their relatives were complimentary about the staff and the care they received. One person said: “The staff are so friendly and caring and could not ask for more.”

Another relative added: “We have met many members of staff who are all lovely caring people.”

Run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters, the service is tailored for, but not limited to, people from the Roman Catholic Church.

The inspectors said people’s spiritual and religious needs were 'met on a regular basis', with people able to attend Mass in the chapel and listen to the service on their television or radio which people said they enjoyed.

The report added: "People were supported to eat and drink enough and had access to external health professionals for care and support. Staff knew people well and respected their choice and preferences."

Why was the home inspected?

According to the report, the inspection was prompted, 'in part', due to concerns identified as part of a direct monitoring approach (DMA).

The concerns related to the service not having a registered manager and a lack of reporting events notifiable to CQC.

"As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

"We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question.

"We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to Covid-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively."

The inspections said no areas of concern were identified in the other key questions, adding: "We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection."

Inspections said that they were mindful of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and 'took account of the exceptional circumstances', when considering what enforcement action was 'necessary and proportionate'.

They added: "We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.

"We have identified breaches in relation to consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, recruitment, how the home is managed and failing to report notifiable events as required."

The service is now in 'special measures’. An action plan has been requested for the provider to 'understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety'.

"We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress," the inspectors said. "We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner."