29 and 30 October 2014
During a routine inspection
The inspection was unannounced, and the inspection visit was carried out over two days; 29 October 2014 and 30 October 2014. At the last inspection visit in December 2013 we found that this service met all the national minimum standards we looked at. Since then there has been no incidents or concerns raised that needed investigation.
Stenson Court is a care home situated in Balby, Doncaster which is registered to accommodate up to 30 people. The service is provided by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. At the time of the inspection the home was providing residential care for 19 people, some of whom had been diagnosed with dementia.
The service has 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We spent time in all the areas of the home. This included the unit where care was provided for people living with dementia, and the residential unit. We observed the interaction of the staff with the people who lived there. We saw staff knew people well and respected their dignity at all times.
People told us they felt safe living in Stenson Court. We found staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities to keep people safe at all times. One person had written a comment on a notice displayed in the entrance to the home saying, “I live with joy through the day and peace through the night.” The person told us this was how she felt about living at Stenson Court.
There were procedures to follow if staff had any concerns about the safety of people they supported. The requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were in place to protect people who may not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves.
There were enough skilled and experienced staff and there was a programme of training, supervision and appraisal to support staff to meet people’s needs. Procedures in relation to
recruitment and retention of staff were robust and ensured only suitable people were employed in the service.
Staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs and made sure they supported people to have a healthy diet, with choices of a good variety of food and drink.
People had individual personal plans that were centred on their needs and preferences and had a good level of information, which explained how to meet each person’s needs.
People had access to some activities, however recent changes to staffing meant there was no designated activity co-ordinator based at the service.