This inspection took place on 6 July 2016 and was unannounced. We last inspected the home on 31 January 2014 when we found the provider was meeting all the areas that we looked at. Otto Schiff is a care home registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 54 older people including people with dementia. The home is operated and run by Jewish Care, a voluntary organisation. At the time of our inspection, 52 people were living in the home.
The home has 54 bedrooms with ensuite facilities split into five units across three floors. Each floor has assisted bathrooms, open plan dining and lounge areas. The ground floor has a large activity room that is used for multiple purposes. The two floors are accessible via two lifts and there is an accessible garden. On the campus where the home is situated there was access to a shop, café and library.
The home had a registered manager who has been registered with the Care Quality Commission since 19 October 2015. 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.
People using the service told us they felt safe at the service. The service had robust safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff were able to explain their role when raising safeguarding alerts and concerns relating to abuse. The service had systems to identify and manage risks. Risk assessments were detailed and individualised, and care records were maintained efficiently.
The service was clean and had effective measures to prevent and control infection. The service kept accurate records of medicines administered by staff. There were effective systems for medicines collection. Care plans and risk assessments supported the safe handling of people's medicines.
The service followed safe recruitment practices. Staff files had records of application forms, interview notes, criminal record checks and reference checks. Staff told us they were supported well and we saw records of staff supervision. Staff told us they attended induction training and additional training, and records confirmed this.
The registered manager told us there were sufficient numbers of staff employed to ensure that people’s individual needs were met. However some people and staff told us there were not enough staff at all times to meet people’s needs.
There was choice of food at meal times, and staff supported people to eat when this was needed. People using the service and their relatives told us they found staff kind and caring. People told us staff listened to them and their individual health and care needs were met.
The service operated within the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff asked people their consent before supporting them. There were appropriate referrals for DoLS authorisation for people who were unable to consent to care to ensure their rights were protected.
The service was reviewing people’s care plans. The care plans were personalised and people’s life histories, individual needs and likes and dislikes were recorded. People and their relatives were involved in planning their care. People and their relatives were asked about their views at residents’ and relatives’ meetings. People were supported to carry out activities in and outside of the service. People and their relatives told us they were asked for their feedback and their complaints were acted upon promptly.
The service had systems and processes in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of service provided. There was evidence of regular monitoring checks of various aspects of the service.