24 September 2014
During an inspection in response to concerns
At the time of our inspection there were 30 people using the service.
During our inspection we spoke with six people who received services at Hobkirk House, the registered manager, the deputy manager, a qualified nurse, four care staff, two domestics and a member of the catering staff. We spent time observing care and support being delivered in communal areas. We also looked at a range of records, including five people's care plans and other records relating to the management of the service.
Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service which included; safeguarding alerts the provider had notified us about in the last 12 months.
This inspection was carried out by a single inspector. We considered all the evidence gathered under the outcomes inspected and used the information to answer the questions; Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service well led?
Below is a summary of what we found. If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
People told us they felt safe living at the home. One person told us, 'I feel perfectly safe here.'
There were robust safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures in place and staff understood what abuse was and knew how to report it.
Risks were assessed and managed well, with care plans and risk assessments providing clear information and guidance for staff.
Is the service effective?
People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts of nutritious and well-presented meals that met their individual dietary needs. One person told us, 'We're given very good food. Can't fault it' and another person said, 'You're always given a choice at mealtimes and if you don't like the alternative you're offered you can always have a sandwich'.
People's health and support needs were assessed and appropriately reflected in care records. People were supported to maintain good health and to access health care services and professionals when they needed them.
Is the service caring?
People told us they were happy living at the home. They also told us staff were kind and caring. One person said, 'It's very nice here. The staff are wonderful', and another told us, 'The staff are so friendly and treat us well' and 'I feel perfectly safe here'. We saw staff treated people with dignity, respect and compassion.
Care and support was centred on people's individual needs and wishes. Staff were familiar with people's individual needs and knew how to meet them.
Is the service well led?
The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. The manager demonstrated a good understanding of their role and they ran the home in an open and transparent manner.
Systems were in place to regularly monitor the safety and quality of the service people received. Safeguarding concerns were reported and analysed to identify trends and patterns to minimise the risk of similar events reoccurring.