29 February 2016
During a routine inspection
Tynedale Promoting Independence Centre is a residential care home that provides respite, short break and assessment for up to 6 weeks. Accommodation and personal care is provided for up to 27 older people, prior to them moving to a permanent placement, or returning to their own homes. Nursing care is not provided. There were 20 people living there at the time of inspection.
There was a registered manager who had been in post since 2009. 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 told us they felt safe living at the service and that staff knew how to act to keep them safe from harm. The building and equipment were well maintained and there were regular health and safety checks undertaken by staff.
There were enough staff to meet people sometimes complex needs and the staff were trained, supervised and supported to effectively meet their needs. The service had a number of vacancies but was using existing staff to cover shifts.
Medicines were managed well by the staff and people received the help they needed to take their medicines safely. Where people’s needs changed the staff sought medical advice and encouraged people to maintain their well-being. External healthcare professional’s advice was sought appropriately.
People were supported by staff who knew their needs well and how best to support them. Staff were aware of people’s choices and how to support those people who no longer had the capacity to make decisions for themselves. Families felt the service was effective and offered them reassurance that their relatives were being well cared for. Where decisions had to be made about people’s care, families and external professionals were involved and consulted as part of the process.
People were supported to maintain a suitable food and fluid intake. Staff responded flexibly to ensure that people maintained their physical wellbeing and worked with people as individuals.
Staff were caring and valued the people they worked with. Staff showed kindness, empathy and humour in responding to people’s needs. Families felt their relatives were cared for by a staff team who valued them and would keep them safe.
Privacy and dignity were carefully considered by the staff team, who ensured that people’s choices and previous wishes were respected. Our observations confirmed there was genuine empathy and warmth between staff and people living at the home.
People who were receiving end of life care had their needs appropriately assessed. Professional advice was sought where needed to promote advance care planning
The service responded to people’s needs as they changed over time, sometimes responding promptly to sudden changes in people’s needs. The service supported people to access appropriate support so the staff could keep them safe and well.
The registered manager led by example, supporting staff to consider new ways to meet people’s needs. The registered manager regularly consulted families and staff to look for ways to improve the service and audits and reviews of care delivery were carried out.