The Homestead

Updated 12 January 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 12 and 14 December 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and two experts by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The experts spoke with people using the service and visitors to gather their feedback. They also observed interactions between people and staff, including providing care and support in the communal areas and with activities.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the PIR and information we held about the service. This included notifications we had received. Notifications are certain events that providers are required by law to tell us about. In addition, we contacted the local authority commissioners of services to obtain their views on the service.

During the inspection we spoke with 14 people using the service, three relatives of people, an activities co-ordinator, a team leader, a care worker, a maintenance person and the registered manager.

We reviewed six people’s care plans, four staff files, training records and records relating to the management of the service such as audits, health and safety files, and policies and procedures.

Updated 12 January 2019

We undertook an unannounced inspection of The Homestead on 12 and 14 December 2018.

The Homestead is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service is registered to provide care for up to 68 older people and is prepared to accommodate individuals living with dementia. On the day of our inspection 64 people were living at the home.

At our last inspection we had rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. According to the findings of our inspection and ongoing monitoring there were no serious risks or concerns relating to the functioning of the service. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was 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.

Why the service is rated Good.

The service was outstanding in their responsiveness. The service went the extra mile in providing people with a broad variety of activities to prevent social isolation. The service was extremely responsive to people’s needs and wishes. People and their relatives told us that staff went over and above their call of duty which made a profound difference to people’s lives. People emphasized the fact that they were delighted by the events organised by the service. People using the service and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or make a complaint.

The service continued to ensure people were safe. Staff understood potential signs of abuse, were aware of their responsibilities to report any concerns and knew how to do this. People had a range of individualised risk assessments in place to keep them safe and to help them maintain their independence. Medicines were stored and administered safely. There were enough appropriately trained staff to meet people's needs. The provider followed appropriate recruitment procedures to ensure they employed staff who were suitable to provide care.

People continued to receive effective care. People were supported by staff who were suitably trained and supported in their roles. People were given choice and provided with support in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. People had their nutritional needs met. We observed a lunch time meal and noted people were consuming appetizing food in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Homestead continued to provide a caring service to people. Staff consistently demonstrated kindness and compassion towards people. People and, where appropriate, their relatives were involved in making decisions about the care and support people received. People's choices

and preferences were respected.

The service continued to be well-led. People, their relatives and staff spoke highly of the management. There were systems in place that monitored the quality of the service, resolved issues and strived for continuous improvement. Staff felt engaged and empowered working at the service.