Archived: Crossways Residential Care Home

Updated 18 May 2016

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.

We inspected the service on 11 and 12 April 2016. The inspection visit was unannounced and the inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

We spent time at the service looking at records. This included three people’s care and support records, three staff recruitment files, policies and procedures and other records relating to the management of the service.

Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service. This included looking at any safeguarding referrals received, whether any complaints had been made and any other information from members of the public. We looked at notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

The registered provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) as requested. This is a form that asks the registered provider to give key information about the service, for example, what the service does well and any improvements they intend to make.

We contacted the local authority safeguarding and contracts teams for their views on the service. No concerns were raised about this service.

On the days of our inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, two relatives, the registered manager and four staff members.

Updated 18 May 2016

We inspected this service on 11 and 12 April 2016 and the visit was unannounced on the first day.

This care service is owned by CLS Care Services Limited. They are registered to provide personal and respite care for up to 39 adults. A passenger lift and staircases provide access to all levels. The home is purpose built and situated in the village of Lostock Gralam, about three miles from Northwich town centre. Parking is available to the side of the building.

At the time of this inspection visit there were 31 people living at Crossways. They were supported by a staff team of 36.

There was a registered manager employed to work at the service and they have been registered for 10 months. 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 that they felt safe at the home with the staff. Appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures were in place and staff told us they would raise any concerns they had with the management team.

People said the staff were kind, friendly and respectful towards them. Relatives said that the home was well run by the new registered manager and that significant improvements had been made since his employment. Staff said the registered manager was very supportive and good improvements had been made since his arrival.

Robust recruitment processes were in place and people could be confident that checks had been undertaken to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staff had undertaken a range of training suitable to their role and had met with their line manager for supervision and annual appraisals to discuss their work and training needs. Staff told us that they also had the opportunity to attend relevant meetings.

People told us the food was good and that they had plenty of choice. Other comments included “The food is hot and tasty”. We saw that mealtimes were a pleasant and enjoyable experience and one where people enjoyed their meals.

There were enough staff working to meet the needs of people. People said that staff were available when they needed them. We noted that an activities coordinator was employed at the service.

We looked at how complaints were dealt with. People told us they would approach the staff on duty or the management team if they had any concerns. The registered provider had not received any complaints since the last inspection, however, processes were in place should a complaint be raised and these showed they would be dealt with in a timely manner.

People told us that Crossways was clean and hygienic and on a tour of the building we saw that staff worked hard to ensure that the home’s cleanliness was maintained.

A range of audits were completed as part of the quality assurance processes used within the service. This meant that there were systems in place to ensure that all areas of the service are regularly monitored.

People and their relatives told us that they were asked on a regular informal basis if they were happy with the care and service provided. Annual surveys, care plan reviews and meetings were held on a regular basis. This meant that people had the opportunity to discuss any issues and help inform future planning at the service. People who took part in the survey were happy living at Crossways and were satisfied with the overall standard of the home.