This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 04 December 2014.
Springfields residential service provides accommodation for up to 16 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were nine people living at the home and two people receiving respite care.
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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People felt safe and thought the staff were caring and respectful of them. People also thought this of the other people who lived at the service. The manager had trained senior staff to carryout risk assessments, record the findings and work with people to minimise risks.
Relatives found the staff, management and provider approachable and could speak to them if they ever needed to do so or had concerns. There were always sufficient numbers of staff on duty.
The medication was stored safely, there was a policy and procedure in place and the service had systems in place to identify medication errors and took appropriate as required to rectify any errors.
Staff knew peoples likes and dislikes and ensured they received care that was responsive to their needs.
The registered manager had received training and understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which meant they were working with the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions. The service had a plan in place for all staff to receive training in this subject in 2015.
The service supported people to maintain their independence and people spent their leisure time and going out of the service to spend time with their families. People who used the service enjoyed the weekday meeting to play word games together with members of staff.
People had access to healthcare professionals including their own GP, dentists and opticians.
There was a system in place for responding to people’s concerns and complaints. The registered manager informed us which was confirmed by the people who used the service that they toured the service each day. This provided an opportunity to meet with people and discuss any issues or concerns and take any necessary appropriate steps to resolve any issues.
Although staff received induction training upon joining the service, there was a lack of on-going training with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and food handling.