3 April 2014
During a routine inspection
Is the service safe?
We saw that people were cared for in an environment that was safely maintained and suitable to meet their needs. One person told us, 'I feel very safe here and I have not fallen since I have been in the home.'
Whilst the provider had procedures in place to ensure that adequate records relating to the care of each person was kept. These records were not being consistently maintained. This meant that care records did not always demonstrate that people were receiving safe care. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.
Staff personnel records that we looked at contained all the information required by the Health and Social Care Act to ensure that people were safeguarded.
CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care homes. Staff told us that the home does not provide a service to people that may lack the capacity to agree to being admitted therefore no applications have needed submitted. However, the organisation has procedures in place should this be necessary and staff spoken with understood the procedures.
Is the care effective?
Everyone staying at the home that we spoke with told us they were happy with the care and that their needs were being met. One person told us, 'It's a nice easy going home. I get up when I want to and go to bed when I want. They let you take your time to do things.' We saw that staff knew people well and were attentive to their needs, whilst supporting them to be independent. We saw a person being discharged after a short stay in the home, which meant they had been supported by the home to become independent and to return to their own home.
Is the service caring?
Everyone living at the home that we spoke with and a visitor to the home told us that the staff were caring. One person said, 'All the staff are caring.' We saw that a person staying at the home could not communicate verbally and we saw that staff took the time to use sign language and to write things down so that they could communicate with the person. A visitor told us, 'I can't say anything bad about the home. The staff are always friendly.'
Is the service responsive?
Where people were admitted from hospital the home received a summary of needs from the hospital and there was a process in place for the home to conduct a needs assessment upon admission. Where people were admitted from the community the local authority provided an assessment of needs, this was supported by the home's own assessment process. People told us that staff were responsive to their needs. One person told us, 'They always ask what we would like to eat and drink and we say if there is anything we don't like.' A visitor told us that they could visit the home at any time.
Is the service well led?
We saw that the home had a staffing structure that would enable the service to be managed appropriately. This included a manager that we have registered to be responsible for the running of the service. We saw that there was a good atmosphere in the home. People were consulted about the quality of service they received. We saw that the provider had started to analyse people's comments and suggestions to identify where improvements may be needed. Staff said that they were able to put forward ideas for improvement in the home.