Archived: Headingley Park

At our last inspection we rated the service 'Good'. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of 'Good' and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The home had recently appointed a new manager who was in the process of registering with CQC. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. 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 lived in a safe environment which was predominantly clean and regularly checked. Individual risks to people were assessed and plans were put in place to keep people safe whilst encouraging their independence. Where incidents had occurred, staff took appropriate actions to ensure people's safety. There were sufficient numbers of staff present at the home to ensure that people were safe and staff were knowledgeable about how to manage risks and respond to potential safeguarding concerns. Staff were trained in how to administer people's medicines safely.

Staff had been given the right training and support to carry out their roles. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this. People received an assessment before coming to live at the home to determine the home environment was suited to people's needs. People were provided with sufficient food and drink. Each person was able to have a say about the meals that were served and were offered an alternative if they wanted something else to eat.

People were supported by kind staff that knew them well. Staff routinely involved people in decisions about their care and identified ways to encourage people to develop skills and independence. In most instances people's privacy and dignity was respected by staff when providing care.

Regular reviews were carried out to ensure care plans reflected people's current needs and any changes were responded to. People had access to a range of activities that suited their interests as well as their needs. There was a clear complaints policy in place and the provider took steps to identify and respond to feedback from people and their relative.

People spoke highly of the staff and management at the home and the manager was accessible to people at all times. Staff acknowledged the support that they received from management and there were systems in place to encourage staff to make suggestions and identify improvements. The provider regularly sought the feedback of people and relatives and involved them in decisions about their care at the home. There were a variety of checks and audits in place which the registered provider informed us will become more robust to monitor and assure the quality of the care that people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Headingley Park is situated in the Edlington area of Doncaster. The home provides accommodation for up to 40 people who require personal care. The service has two units, one named Poppy, providing residential care and Lavender, providing care for people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 33 people using the service.

The service had a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about protecting people from abuse. They told us they had attended training in this area and had learned the types of abuse and how to report it. Staff were confident that the management team would take action if required.

Care plans we looked at contained risk assessment to identify any potential hazards with a person’s care and support. These included areas such as falls, malnutrition, and choking. Risk assessments gave information about the issue and how best to support the person in order to prevent any harm.

People’s medicines were managed safely and stored appropriately. We saw systems and records in place which indicated medicines had been administered in line with the person’s needs.

We observed staff supporting people who used the service and found there was enough staff to meet people’s needs. On the day of our inspection there were 15 people living on the Lavender unit and 18 people living on the Poppy unit. Each unit was supported by a senior care worker, two care workers and an activity co-ordinator.

The provider had an effective recruitment system in place and recruitment was carried out in line with the provider’s policy. We looked at four staff files and found pre-employment checks were obtained prior to new staff commencing employment.

Through our observations and talking with staff we found they received appropriate training to carry out their role safely and effectively. Training was provided face to face and included some practical training for subjects such as moving and handling.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. We found the service to be meeting the requirements of this act.

We observed lunch being served on both Poppy and Lavender units and found in the main they were pleasant experiences. On both units was saw good interaction and staff offering choice of meal and portion size to people. Drinks and snacks were also served throughout the day.

We observed interactions between staff and people who used the service and found they were carried out in a caring, and kindly manner. We saw staff knocked on bedroom doors before entering, closed curtains and ensured privacy was maintained. Staff we spoke with were able to discuss how they respected people’s dignity.

Care plans were in the process of being up dated on to new paperwork and this was a work in progress. We looked at care plans and found they showed evidence that people’s needs were assessed and reviewed on a regular basis.

The service had a complaints procedure and this was displayed in the entrance are of the home. It contained details of contact numbers for the local council, the company head office, ombudsman and the Care Quality Commission.

There was a good sense of leadership within the home and staff raised concerns or issues with the senior staff or the deputy manager. If things could not be rectified at this level the registered manager became involved. All staff at all levels were committed to making the service successful.