This inspection took place on 21 December 2016 and was unannounced. Claybourne is a care service for people who have a variety of support needs, such as older people and people with dementia. There were 44 people receiving a service at the time of the inspection.
There was a Registered Manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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 told us they felt safe and we saw risk assessments and plans had been put in place to keep people safe. When an incident had occurred, action had been taken to protect the person and to reduce the likelihood of another incident occurring. Appropriate moving and handling techniques were being used to help people mobilise.
Medicines were stored and managed safely. There was clear guidance available for staff to follow and checks were made to ensure people were receiving their medicine as prescribed. PRN protocols were also in place for people that needed their medicine ‘as and when required’.
There were appropriate amounts of staff to care for people and people did not have to wait for support. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse and referrals had been made if there had been an incident.
Safe recruitment practices were in place and staff had appropriate checks prior to starting work to ensure they were suitable to work with people who use the service.
Checks were made on the building itself to ensure it remained safe for people to live there.
The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were being followed. Mental capacity assessments were being carried out and when people did not have capacity decisions were made and recorded in their best interest. Evidence had been sought to verify that representatives had Lasting Power of Attorney.
Appropriate Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding referrals had been made to ensure people were not being unlawfully deprived.
Staff had sufficient training to support people effectively and staff were able to refresh this training when required.
People had access to other health professionals in order to maintain their health and wellbeing.
People were supported to have food and drinks of their choice that were appropriate for their needs.
People felt staff were caring and that they were treated with dignity and respect, and people were encouraged to maintain as much independence as possible. People were offered choices and these choices were respected. Visitors were able to visit at a time convenient for them and people could decorate their rooms so they could have personalised space.
Care plans contained good personal detail so that staff could get to know the people they supported and people had their preferences documented and catered for where possible. People and family were involved in reviews and when people’s needs had changed plans had been updated.
People were encouraged to partake in activities that interested them and staff were able to support people with this. People’s spiritual needs were taken into consideration and people were able to access spiritual support.
People and relatives were encouraged to provide feedback or complain if they needed to and it was recorded that this feedback was acted upon. We saw that complaints were recorded, investigated and responded to.
Effective quality monitoring systems were in place. Care files and associated documentation was audited and action was taken when omissions had been identified.
Staff all felt they could approach the registered manager and management team. There was an open door policy and staff all said they could raise things if necessary.
The registered manager felt supported by the provider and had submitted notifications about the service, which they are required to do by law.