This unannounced inspection was conducted on 13 July 2016.Melrose Court is a residential care home for up to 21 people. It is situated lose to the centre of Southport which can be accessed via nearby public transport. Accommodation is provided over three floors. At the time of the inspection 18 people were living at the home.
A registered manager was in post. 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.
The people that we spoke with and their relatives told us that care was delivered safely. People understood what action to take if they were unhappy with the quality of care. Staff knew how to recognise abuse and neglect and understood what action to take if they had concerns.
Accidents and incidents were accurately recorded and were subject to assessment to identify patterns and triggers.
Risks were clearly identified within care records and appropriate measures were in place to reduce risk without imposing undue restrictions. Information about individual risks to people’s safety was displayed in a staff room.
The provider regularly completed a number of safety checks and made use of external contractors where required. Checks included; gas safety, electrical safety, water temperatures and general health and safety. Each of the checks had been completed in accordance with the relevant schedule. We saw evidence that prompt action had been taken were issues had been identified.
Staff were recruited safely following a robust procedure. Staffing numbers were sufficient to safely meet the needs of people living at the home.
People’s medication was stored and administered in accordance with good practice. We spot-checked Medicine Administration Record (MAR) sheets and stock levels. Each of the MAR sheets had been completed correctly. Stock levels tallied with the figures recorded on the MAR sheets.
Staff were suitably trained and skilled to meet the needs of people living at the home. The staff we spoke with confirmed that they felt equipped for their role. People living at the home and their relatives told us that they had no concerns about staff knowledge or skills.
The records that we saw showed that the home was operating in accordance with the principles of the MCA. Applications to deprive people of their liberty had been submitted appropriately.
Meals were freshly prepared and served in a well presented dining room. People gave us positive views on the quality of the food. We saw people being offered hot and cold drinks throughout the course of the inspection.
People were supported to maintain good health and to access healthcare services by staff. Most of the people that we spoke with had a good understanding of their healthcare needs and were able to contribute to care planning in this area.
Each of the people that we spoke with were extremely positive about the attitude and approach of the care staff and the registered manager. We saw that relatives were encouraged to stay for as long as they liked and were offered food and drinks during their visits.
Throughout the inspection we saw staff engaging with people in a positive and caring manner. Staff spoke to people in a respectful way and used language, pace and tone that was appropriate for the individual.
Each person who came to live at the home had been given a welcome pack which included; a statement of purpose (important information about the home and its services), a copy of the complaints procedure, information about the staff team and guidance on safety in the home.
All of the people living at the home that we spoke with told us they received care that was personalised to meet their needs. We saw evidence in care records that people’s preferences were recorded. Person-centred language was used throughout care records and people’s life histories were recorded to give staff a better understanding of each individual. The use of person-centred language indicated that the home understood and focused on the care needs of each individual. Some relatives had been involved in the development of these records.
The home had a programme of activities including games, exercises and entertainers. We saw that the home maintained a good stock of books, games and craft materials to support activities.
People’s views about the quality of the home and the care provided were sought during reviews of care, through the regular distribution of surveys and informally through conversation. The recent surveys that we saw recorded high levels of satisfaction from each of the respondents.
Information regarding compliments and complaints was displayed in the reception area. The home had not received a formal complaint in the previous 12 months.
We spoke extensively with the registered manager throughout the inspection. It was clear that they knew each person living at the home and their care needs well. The registered manager demonstrated an awareness of the day-to day culture of the home and provided practical care and support as required. People spoke positively about the registered manager, their approachability, leadership of the home and the quality of communication.
Staff understood what was expected of them and were motivated to provide good quality care. We saw that staff were relaxed, positive and encouraging in their approach to people throughout the inspection.
The registered manager had robust systems in place to monitor safety and quality. They completed regular audits which included information that was fed-back to the staff team.