We carried out this inspection on 05 November 2014. This was an unannounced inspection
St Michaels specialises in the care of older people who have mental health needs including people living with dementia. It provides accommodation for up to 40 people and is registered to provide accommodation for persons who require nursing and personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 40 people living at the home.
At the time of our 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.
On the day of our inspection we found that staff interacted well with people and people were cared for safely. People told us that they felt safe and well cared for. When we spoke with staff they were able to tell us about how to keep people safe.
The provider was acting in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The provisions of the MCA are used to protect people who might not be able to make informed decisions on their own about the care or treatment they received. This includes decisions about depriving people of their liberty so that they get the care and treatment they need where there is no less restrictive way of achieving this. If the location is a care home, the Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the DoLS, and to report on what we find. At the time of our inspection there one person who was subject to DoLS.
We found that people’s health care needs were assessed, and care planned and delivered
to meet those needs. People had access to other healthcare professionals such as a dietician and a GP.
Staff responded in a timely and appropriate manner to people. Staff were kind and sensitive to people when they were providing support and they had a good understanding of people’s needs. Although people had access to activities we saw that there was little opportunity for people to develop their interests on an individual basis.
People were supported to eat enough to keep them healthy. People had access to a range of snacks and drinks during the day and had choices at mealtimes. Where people had special dietary requirements we saw that these were provided for. We saw one care plan did not reflect the person’s nutritional needs and the care they were receiving.
Staff were provided with training on a variety of subjects to ensure that they had the skills to meet people’s needs. Staff obtained people’s consent before providing care to them.
Staff felt able to raise concerns and issues with management. We found people who used the service and relatives were clear about the process for raising concerns and were confident that they had a voice in the running of the service. Audits were carried out on a regular basis however; they had not picked up the concerns which we raised about health and safety issues relating to the storage of equipment.
On the day of our inspection we identified concerns regarding the safe management of laundry and prevention of cross infection.