Archived: Uplands Nursing Home

This is a summary of what we found;

Is the service safe?

When we arrived at the service the person who opened the door checked our identity and asked us to sign in their visitor's book. This meant that appropriate actions were taken to ensure that the people who used the service were protected from others who did not have the right to access their home. People said that they felt safe living in Uplands Nursing Home. They told us that they would tell the staff if they had any worries or concerns.

Staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant that staff were provided with the information that they needed to ensure that people were safeguarded. The service was safe. The records showed that health and safety checks had been carried out and any issues had been dealt with appropriately.

Is the service effective?

People told us that they felt that they were provided with a service that met their needs. One person said, 'My care plan is good, it shows what I want and what I need.' Another person said, 'I am very happy here, the staff make sure that I get what I need.'

People's care records showed that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. Improvements were being made to the care planning system. We saw that the records had been reviewed and updated. This meant that staff were provided with up to date information about how people's needs were to be met.

Is the service caring?

We saw good interaction between staff and people who used the service. Staff spoke to people respectfully, and were caring and courteous in their manner. People told us that the staff were always kind and respectful. One person said, 'They are very caring here, they are all very nice.' Another person said, 'It is lovely here."

Staff knew people well and had a good knowledge of their likes and dislikes. People told us that the staff treated them respectfully. One person said, 'The staff all help me to do what I want to do, they know what I like and are very caring.' Another person said, 'I am very happy, everyone is very nice.' People's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with their wishes.

Is the service responsive?

People participated in activities both within the service and out in the local community. People told us that staff helped them to go out. The activities records showed that people had been offered opportunities to take part in activities that met their needs.

We saw from records viewed that people's healthcare needs had been identified. Appropriate actions had been taken to meet people's needs. The records showed that people had been supported with their routine healthcare needs such as for the chiropodist, the GP, the optician and the hospital.

Is the service well-led?

We saw from the records viewed that the service worked well with other agencies. There were emergency transfer forms in place for use when needed if people had to use another service such as admission to hospital. There was a more detailed transfer letter in place for when people transferred to another service permanently.

Review documentation and health records showed that the service made sure that people received their care in a joined up way. The service had a quality assurance system in place. The records showed that the manager had dealt with any shortfalls appropriately. As a result the quality of the service was continuingly improving.

The service used frozen ready prepared meals that were heated up in the oven. They did not use any fresh fruit or vegetables. People told us that they would like some 'fresh vegetables' and 'old fashioned spuds.' The service needs to improve on the quality of people's dining experience.

We saw that the service had good infection control policies, procedures and practices. Staff followed the Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.

The service had recruitment procedures in place and had carried out appropriate checks for most staff before they started work. However, a recent staff member had started work before their references had been received. The provider had a system in place to monitor the quality of the service. However it was not always effective because regular audits had not been carried out.