We undertook an unannounced focused inspection of Jesmund Nursing Home on 22 January 2019. This inspection was carried out following concerns raised regarding safety of pressure ulcer management at the service. The team inspected the service against two of the five questions we ask about services: ‘Is the service well led?’ and ‘Is the service safe?’ This report only covers our findings in relation to those questions. No risks, concerns or significant improvement were identified in the remaining Key Questions through our ongoing monitoring or during our inspection activity so we did not inspect them. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Jesmund Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Jesmund Nursing Home 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. The service is registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 22 people. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people were living in the service.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People continued to receive safe care and support. People’s risks were assessed and mitigated. Where people were at risk of pressure ulcers, timely referrals were made to healthcare professionals and the integrity of their skin was promoted. Care records were maintained and reviewed which detailed the support required and provided to protect areas vulnerable to pressure ulcers.

Staff were trained to safeguard people from abuse and improper treatment. The provider had a clear safeguarding procedure which staff understood. The provider vetted staff to ensure they were suitable to deliver care and support. People received medicines appropriately staff ensured that the environment and their practices were hygienic.

The service continued to be well led. The registered manager audited the quality of the service people received and made improvements to people’s care. The views of people, relatives and staff were gathered in order to shape the planning and delivery of care and support. The provider worked collaboratively with external organisations to meet people's needs.

This unannounced inspection took place on 24 July 2018.

This was the first inspection of regulated activity at Jesmund Nursing Home since a new provider took over the service in November 2017. Jesmund Nursing Home 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. The service is registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 22 people. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people were living in the service.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People living in Jesmund Nursing Home were kept staff by staff who were trained to assess people’s risks and to protect them from abuse. Robust recruitment practices were in place to ensure staff were safe and suitable to deliver care. The registered manager ensured there were enough staff available to deliver care and support safely and at all times. Staff followed appropriate medicines, infection control and fire safety procedures.

Trained and supervised staff delivered care and support in line with people’s needs assessments. People received the support they required to eat and drink and to access healthcare services when required. The environment was adapted to meet people’s needs and staff treated people in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were treated with respect and dignity by a caring staff team. Staff and people knew each other well and shared warm relationships. People’s communication needs were supported and staff respected people’s privacy. Relatives were made to feel welcome when they visited the service and staff supported people to maintain contact with loved ones.

The service was developing electronic care records which were personalised and reflected people’s preferences. Staff were responsive to people’s changing needs and closely monitored these needs which were likely to change quickly such as pain and anxiety. The service made a range of activities available for people to participate in and supported people to access the community. People and their relatives had ready access to the provider’s clear complaints procedure.

The service had a new provider who had made a number of improvements to the care home. People, relatives and staff expressed confidence in both the provider and registered manager. The provider introduced robust checks across a range of areas to improve the quality of care and support people received. The views of people, relatives and staff were actively sought and used to shape service delivery. People benefited from the provider’s partnership working with other social care organisations.