20 July 2017
During a routine inspection
We inspected the home on 20 July 2017. The inspection was announced 24 hours in advance because the service was a small care home for younger adults who may be out during the day. There were three people living in the home at the time of our inspection.
The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with 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.
There was a range of systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service and to help ensure people were receiving appropriate support. However, the provider had not managed to drive through improvements to the environment, which required action by the housing provider. Some areas of the home were in need of repair and redecoration and did not promote the dignity of the people living there.
Staff understood how to identify, report and manage any concerns related to people’s safety and welfare. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from harm, including how medicines were managed.
Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks had been undertaken, which made sure only suitable staff were employed to care for people in the home. Agency staff were being used to maintain sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s current needs.
Staff were supported to provide appropriate care to people because they were trained, supervised and appraised. There was an induction, training and development programme, which supported staff to gain relevant knowledge and skills.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which apply to care homes. Where people’s liberty or freedoms were at risk of being restricted, the proper authorisations were in place.
People and their relatives or representatives were involved in planning the care and support provided by the service. Staff listened to people and understood and respected their needs. Staff reflected people’s wishes and preferences in the way they delivered care. They understood the issues involved in supporting people who had lost capacity to make some decisions.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs and to make informed choices about what they ate. Staff ensured people obtained advice and support from other health professionals to maintain and improve their health or when their needs changed.
There was a friendly atmosphere in the home and staff supported people in a kind and caring way that took account of their individual needs and preferences.
The service was responsive to people’s needs and there were systems in place to help ensure any concerns or complaints were responded to appropriately. People were supported to do the things that interested them, maintain relationships and to participate in community activities.
The registered manager demonstrated an open management style and provided leadership to the staff team.