An adult social care inspector carried out this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?As part of this inspection we spoke with two people who used the service, the registered manager and with two members of staff. We reviewed records relating to the management of the home which included, four care plans, daily care records, training records, staff recruitment records, quality surveys and audits.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at.
Is the service safe?
During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service. They told us that they were happy with the care and support provided. One person told us they felt very safe and added, "If I felt something was wrong or someone else was unhappy, I would tell one of the staff or the manager."
We looked at four sets of care records which included individual risk assessments. Measures had been put in place to minimise any risks to people who used the service that ensured they were supported safely. For example, risk assessments were in place to ensure that the environment in which care was provided was safe, that any risk of malnutrition was assessed and managed and that the risks of acquiring pressure ulcers were also managed.
People who used the service were asked whether they felt safe and secure in an annual quality survey. 67% said that they strongly agreed with the statement, 33% agreed, a completely positive response
CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care services. While no applications had needed to be submitted, policies and procedures were in place and under review. Relevant staff had been trained to understand when an application might be necessary and how to submit one.
Is the service effective?
People who used the service were treated with dignity and respect. They were supported in making choices. For example, what they wanted to wear or when they chose to go out. One person we spoke with said, "This is my home, I have plenty of choice in what I want to do and what to eat. I can come and go as I please, I just make sure I tell staff when I go out and when I will be back. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Where people found it difficult to make choices for themselves, staff supported them in making decisions based on best interest principles. People we spoke with told us that staff discussed their care plans with them at least once a month.
Quality assurance measures were in place to identify the effectiveness of the service. This included questionnaires given to people who used the service, relatives and staff. We saw the results of a recent quality survey which showed that people who used the service and their relatives thought the service was effective.
Is the service caring?
We saw that people were cared for in an appropriate manner. Records we looked at showed that people's needs had been assessed and details of likes, dislikes, routines and preferences were recorded.
During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service. People we spoke with who used the service were happy with the care and treatment they received. One person said to us, 'I am very well looked after, the care staff are excellent and it's not an easy job."
Is the service responsive?
The four sets of care records we looked at showed that people's needs, choices and personal preferences had been assessed and planned for. Records we looked at during our inspection detailed the needs of each person and their individuality.
People's health and social care needs were attended to. Information was available to staff about individual medical conditions to ensure that staff had up to date knowledge and were able to respond to the person's needs.
Is the service well-led?
There were monitoring and reviewing systems in place to ensure that the quality of the care and support provided was high. We spoke with two members of staff who told us that they had the training and support they needed to safely do their job, which they said they enjoyed.
Members of staff and family members of people who used the service were provided with opportunities to make suggestions and comments to improve the quality of people's support and care. The staff we spoke to spoke highly of the manager and told us that they felt able to approach them with any problems or suggested improvements.