Background to this inspection
Updated
7 April 2016
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.
We inspected the service on 23 and 25 February 2016. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.
We spent time at the service looking at records. This included four people’s care and support records, four staff recruitment files, policies and procedures and other records relating to the management of the service.
Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service. This included looking at any safeguarding referrals received, whether any complaints had been made and any other information from members of the public. Before the inspection we looked at notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.
The registered provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) as requested. This is a form that asks the registered provider to give key information about the service, for example, what the service does well and any improvements they intend to make. We used this information during the planning process to see what they considered the service did well and areas where they intended to improve.
We contacted the local authority safeguarding and contracts monitoring teams for their views on the service. No concerns were raised about this service. Healthwatch visited the service recently and they confirmed that their impression of the service was good. Healthwatch is the independent consumer champion created to gather and represent the views of the public.
On the days of our inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, one relative, one visiting professional, the registered manager and seven staff members. During the days of inspection we observed staff interacting with people who lived in the home. We also undertook a Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). This is used when reviewing services for people who have conditions that mean they may not be able to give verbal opinions on the service they received.
Updated
7 April 2016
We inspected this service on 23 and 25 February 2016 and the inspection was unannounced.
This residential care home is owned by CLS Care Homes Limited and is registered to provide personal care for up to 40 adults within the home. The home is divided into 3 ‘households’ and offers residential care, dementia care, respite and day care facilities. The home is situated in Winsford, Cheshire. Car parking is available to the side of the property.
The previous inspection was undertaken in July 2013 and the service had met the regulations in place at that time.
There is a registered manager in place at this 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.
People told us that the staff were friendly and kind and that the care provided was good. Comments included “The staff are lovely”, “They [staff] are kind and helpful” and “I like the staff”. Relatives confirmed that their family members were well cared for and that they had no complaints or concerns regarding the service. People told us that the food was good and that they enjoyed the meals.
Systems were in place to keep people safe. These included safe medicines management procedures and assessing and minimising risks to people around the home.
Safe recruitment practices were in place that ensured appropriate checks were carried out prior to a member of staff starting their role. This also helped ensure that only suitable staff were employed by the service.
People were supported by staff who received regular training and support for their role. This helped to ensure that people received safe and effective care and support from a well-trained staff team.
Care plans showed what care and support people needed and were available and up to date. These plans contained specific and detailed information about individuals’ that staff needed to know when they were supporting them.
People were asked about their views of the service and audits were completed by the registered manager to ensure that the systems in place measured the success of the service and identified areas for improvement.
People benefited from having access to the services of health care professionals which included GPs, general nurses, opticians and chiropodists.
A complaints procedure was in place and people told us that if they needed to complain they felt they would be listened to. No complaints had been received about or by the service.
We toured the home and saw the communal areas and a selection of bedrooms. The home was clean and free from offensive odours. We noted some areas which needed attention and these were discussed with the registered manager who said they would action them. We saw that areas for people living with dementia had not been designed or developed specifically for their needs and a recommendation was made regarding this.