We inspected this service on 17 March 2015. The inspection was unannounced. At our previous inspection in December 2013 the service was meeting the legal requirements.
There was a registered manager in post at the service. 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.
The service provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 90 people. There are three units providing residential, nursing and care for those with a diagnosis of dementia. There were 89 people living at the home on the day of our inspection.
The registered manager and deputy manager shared a common vision to provide a care environment where people were enabled to carry on living their lives, pursing their interests and maintaining their relationships. People were provided with stimulation and occupation by staff who demonstrated an understanding of the ethos the management team wished to promote. Every person who lived at Galanos House was seen as an important part of the community whatever their limitations. Friends, relatives, volunteers and people from the local community were welcomed into the home and encouraged to learn more about meeting the needs of people who lived there.
There was a team approach to ensure people’s health and wellbeing was maintained, with every member of staff who worked at the home considered an important member of the team. All staff, whatever their position, were provided with training that supported them to meet people’s needs. They had been trained to understand dementia as it was acknowledged that each one of them would have some interaction with people living with dementia as they carried out their role.
The provider had processes to support staff to carry out their roles safely and effectively and staff were encouraged to take further qualifications to develop their careers. People who lived at Galanos House were involved in the recruitment process to ensure staff had the right personal qualities and values to support them.
People spoke highly of the level of commitment and care provided by staff, and during our visit we saw there were enough staff to respond to people’s individual needs. Staff understood their obligations to report any concerns they had about people and told us they would feel confident to report any poor practice within the home. During the day we observed staff approached people with respect, dignity and friendliness which encouraged people to have meaningful interaction with them.
The provider took a positive approach to risk management and supported people as far as possible to continue to do the things they chose. Staff knew what people were still able to do and not just what they could not do.
Whilst most medicines were managed and administered safely, some records were not accurate and did not always follow good practice recommendations.
The registered manager understood their obligations under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. When decisions had been made about a person’s care where they lacked capacity, these had been made in the person’s best interests.
People’s health needs were monitored and they were referred to external healthcare professionals when a need was identified. There were processes to ensure people received sufficient to eat and drink and people were positive about the choice and quality of food. Snacks were readily available to encourage people to eat.
People were supported and enabled to participate in activities that were meaningful to them and encouraged to participate in activities of daily living such as gardening and cooking. There was a welcoming and positive approach to visitors and the wider community was involved in activities and events. Staff established relationships with people’s families and supported people to maintain relationships when they moved to the home.
Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and preferences. Where people were at end of life, the service followed the Gold Standards Framework to ensure dignity was maintained. The manager and staff had a strong commitment to providing support to people and their family to ensure a person’s end of life was as peaceful and pain free as possible.
People told us they would raise any concerns or complaints with staff or managers. People were encouraged to share their views about the quality of service provided through regular meetings, groups and questionnaires.
The provider was a member of several good practice initiatives and worked with fellow organisations to develop innovative ways of supporting people, especially those with a diagnosis of dementia. The service had used guidance and research to provide an environment that stimulated interest and senses and kept people safe.