This inspection took place on the 23rd and 28th September 2015 and was unannounced.
The service is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 20 older people. The service provides both respite and long term care for older people who are mobile but who may require some support with personal care. People who stay for respite may come whilst carers are on holiday or may stay following an illness or operation. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people living there and five people staying for respite.
The service has a registered manager supported by a care manager. 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.
We saw that people were well cared for and the home had a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone we spoke to complimented the staff who supported them.
There were appropriate recruitment processes in place and people felt safe in the home. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and knew how to respond if they had any concerns.
Staff were supported through regular supervisions and undertook training which focussed on helping them to understand the needs of the people they were supporting. People were involved in decisions about the way in which their care and support was provided. Staff understood the need to undertake specific assessments if people lacked capacity to consent to their care and / or their day to day routines. People’s health care and nutritional needs were carefully considered and relevant health care professionals were appropriately involved in people’s care.
People received care from staff that respected their individuality and were kind and compassionate. Their needs were assessed prior to coming to the home and individualised care plans were in place and were kept under review. Staff had taken time to understand peoples likes, dislikes and past life’s and enabled people to participate in activities either within groups or on an individual basis.
People were cared for by staff who were respectful of their dignity and who demonstrated an understanding of each person’s needs. This was evident in the way staff spoke to people and engaged in conversations with them. Relatives commented positively about the care their relative was receiving and it was evident that people could approach management and staff to discuss any issues or concerns they had.
There were a variety of audits in place and action was taken to address any shortfalls. Management and trustees were visible and open to feedback, actively looking at ways to improve and develop the service.