Archived: Airedale Care Home

Updated 5 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 21 and 28 September 2017 and the inspection was unannounced. This was the first inspection for Airedale Care Home since a change of registration in January 2017.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and one expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included speaking with the local authority contracts and safeguarding teams and reviewing information received from the service, such as notifications. We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at how people were supported throughout the day with their daily routines and activities. We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. We looked at four care records for people that used the service and three staff files. We spoke with five people and five relatives. We also spoke with one healthcare professional, three support workers as well as the registered manager and operations manager. We looked at quality monitoring arrangements, rotas and other staff support documents including supervision records, team meeting minutes and individual training records.

Updated 5 December 2017

We carried out the inspection of Airedale Care Home on 21 and 28 September 2017. This was an unannounced inspection.

Airedale Care Home provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. The home is not a nursing home but does support people to access nursing specialists. It is situated on the outskirts of Leeds near the town of Pudsey. The home can support up to a maximum of 40 older people.

The home had a registered manager. 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 were supported by staff who had a good understanding of how to keep them safe, identify signs of abuse and report these appropriately.

Robust processes to check the suitability of staff to work with people were in place. There were sufficient staff available to meet the needs of people and they received support to ensure people were cared for in line with their needs and preferences.

Staff training was monitored and completed in line with the provider policy. Staff supervision had not always been completed in line with the provider’s policy.

Medicines were administered, stored and ordered in a safe and effective way. Some documentation was not in place for peoples ‘as required’ medicines.

Risk assessments formed plans of care for people to ensure their safety and welfare and staff had a good awareness of these. Incidents and accidents were clearly documented and investigated. Actions and learning were identified from these and shared with all staff.

People were encouraged and supported to make decisions about their care and welfare. Where people were unable to consent to their care the provider was guided by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Where people were legally deprived of their liberty the service ensured their safety and appropriate guidance had been followed.

People received a variety of nutritious meals in line with their needs and preferences. Those who required specific dietary requirements for a health need were supported to manage these.

People's privacy and dignity was maintained and staff were caring and considerate as they supported people. Staff involved people and their relatives in the planning of their care.

Care plans in place for people reflected their identified needs and the associated risks. Plans were written in a person centred way documenting people’s personal preferences.

Staff were caring and compassionate and knew people in the home very well. External health and social care professionals spoke highly of the care and support people received at the home. They were involved in the care of people and care plans reflected this.

Effective systems were in place to monitor and evaluate any concerns or complaints received and to ensure learning outcomes or improvements were identified from these. Staff encouraged people and their relatives to share their concerns and experiences with them.

The service had a good staffing structure which provided support, guidance and stability for people, staff and their relatives. Relatives spoke highly of the registered manager and all staff.

A system of audits in place at the home had identified improvements required with care plans and records in the home and these were mostly being addressed.