Archived: The Laurels Care Home

' Is the service safe?

' Is the service effective?

' Is the service caring?

' Is the service responsive?

' Is the service well-led?

During this short responsive inspection we spent time in the communal areas of the home where we observed people having their lunch. We had some conversations with people and they told us, "The food is lovely and there is always plenty of it" and "Yes thank you I am enjoying my lunch".

We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcome we inspected.

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

During our inspection in August people told us they felt safe living in The Laurels. During this visit we saw that people were relaxed in the company of the staff. We spent a short time in the communal areas of the home and observed people interacting in a friendly manner with the staff and other people who lived in The Laurels. New staff had recently been employed using safe and appropriate recruitment systems.

Is the service effective?

All the people who lived in The Laurels had been reassessed since our last visit. This included people who were at risk of falling and who had problems with mobility. The registered manager had introduced a new system that ensured all needs were fully assessed. New, more personalised care plans were in place.

Is the service caring?

People told us they were well cared for. They said, 'There is nothing too much trouble for these girls'. We observed staff helping people to move around the building in a caring manner. We spoke to staff who told us they knew the people they supported very well and they were all like a family.

Is the service responsive?

Our observations during the lunch period evidenced staff were responsive to the needs of the people they were manager to take more responsibility for the care planning process.

Is the service well-led?

We found the registered manager had put in place a good system to monitor the quality of care provided. The registered manager has introduced an improved system to audit the care and support plans.

' Is the service caring?

' Is the service responsive?

' Is the service safe?

' Is the service effective?

' Is the service well led?

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

People in the home told us they felt "safe and secure" and that staff treated them appropriately.

We spoke to staff and we had evidence to show that staff were aware of what might be abusive. We saw that every member of staff had received training in safeguarding. We also had evidence to show that the manager was able to make referrals appropriately to the local authority.

We checked briefly on recruitment and saw that there were good systems in place to ensure that the right kind of staff were taken on to care for vulnerable people.

We walked around the home and saw that the building was clean and orderly and that the building was secure and suitable for older people.

Staff in the home received good levels of support and training. We did ask the provider to ensure that more individual supervision was undertaken so that staff could discuss any issues in confidence.

Is the service effective?

People who lived in the service told us they were happy with the way they were cared for. We noted that some planning for care needed to be improved. Care plans for people with very complex needs did not always meet the difficulties they were experiencing.

We saw that the environment was being updated and improved so that people living with the symptoms of dementia would be able to orientate themselves around the building.

Staff had a good understanding of their job roles and were given suitable training to develop knowledge and skills.

Is the service caring?

We saw caring and responsive interactions during our visit. People who lived in the home and their visitors told us that the staff team were very caring:

"We are very impressed with the kindness and the caring attitude of all the staff."

"These lasses are grand...can have a laugh and a joke with them".

Is the service responsive?

On the day of the inspection we observed staff responding appropriately to individual needs. People were asked about their preferences. Discussions were taking place about outings and entertainments. People told us that there were residents' meetings where they could express their opinions.

The service had systems in place to survey opinions and we were told that planning was based on consultations.

We also noted that a lot of planning had been done to ensure that the care and services were responsive to the needs of people living with dementia.

We judged that more work needed to be done on person centred care planning for people with this diagnosis.

Is the service well-led

Staff, people who lived in the service and their visitors told us that the manager was "always around to talk to if necessary."

Staff told us that the manager was good at supporting them and everyone said the arrangements for training were "really good".

The manager had suitable policies and procedures in place and good systems for monitoring the quality of care and services. We suggested that she develop these so that she had a specific quality monitoring system unique to the home

Another person said, 'It was a hard decision to make but I am glad I did move in as there is always someone around to talk to'.

Staff treated people with respect and supported them to retain as much independence as possible. One person said, "The staff let me be independent and just check on me to see how I'm doing. They offer help if I need it."

Care plans gave guidance to staff so that people's needs were met. People who lived in the home saw healthcare professionals when necessary so that their health and wellbeing was monitored.

Recruitment of staff was carried out well so that only staff suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. One person said, "They're very good staff. Always trying to help. We couldn't wish for anything better."

People and their relatives knew how to complain if they needed to and were confident their complaints would be sorted out.