In this report the name of a registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they had not completed an application to deregister with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and were therefore still recorded on our register at the time.A single inspector carried out this inspection in one day. We spoke with the manager, six members of staff and the six people who lived at the home. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions:
Is the service safe?
Is the service caring?
Is the service effective?
Is the service responsive?
Is the service well-led?
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary described what people using the service and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at.
If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report.
This is a summary of what we found.
Is the service safe?
CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. DoLS were only used when it was considered to be in the person's best interest. There were proper policies and procedures in place and the manager had been trained to understand when an application should be made and how to submit one. Following recent guidance from the Department of Health, the home had made DoLS applications for each person in the home for assessment by the local authority. There was clear multi-disciplinary guidance when a 'best interest' decision had been made for an individual. We saw examples where this had been undertaken and the advice had been followed.
Is the service effective?
People told us they liked living at the home and told us "like it here" and "like it".
We saw that staff obtained consent before they carried out any care or support. Staff were respectful and treated people with dignity.
People's health and care needs were assessed and a plan of care followed in a consistent way. Individual needs were taken into account and care was person-centred.
People's individual risks were identified. Detailed instructions gave staff clear instructions of how to minimise any risk, trigger factors to look for and how to manage the situation in a consistent way.
People were involved in choosing their menu plans and received suitable and nutritious food. Specific dietary needs were identified and managed individually.
Following a period of unsettlement, the home now has a permanent mix of new and long standing staff. All staff felt supported by the manager and received regular supervision.
Is the service caring?
The home had a friendly and homely atmosphere. People appeared comfortable and at ease with staff. People were supported by kind and attentive staff which made people happy and relaxed. We saw that staff understood each person well, including those who were unable to verbally communicate. People moved freely throughout the home and undertook individual activities in line with their preferences.
Is the service responsive?
People's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home. Records showed that people's preferences, choices and needs had been recorded and support plans had been provided that met their needs. People had access to activities and hobbies that were important to them and were undertaken in the local community.
Specialist professionals were contacted where necessary and their advice acted upon.
Complaints and concerns were fully investigated. The group's policies and procedures were in the process of being updated.
Is the service well-led?
The home was currently without a registered manager. A senior manager, who was the registered manager from one of the other homes in the group, was working full-time at the home and carrying out management duties. Staff felt supported by the manager and felt they were approachable.
The service had a quality assurance system in place which identified any shortfalls. Whilst there were formal arrangements in place for people to feedback their views, a recent quality survey had not been sent out for some time which would allow friends, families and other stakeholders to give their feedback on the service provided. The manager was in the process of sending these surveys out.