13 December 2016
During a routine inspection
The registered manager was present during our inspection. 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.
On the day of our inspection people told us, and we found, that there were enough staff on shift to meet the needs of people who used the service.
The registered manager and staff involved people to make decisions about the service they received and obtained people’s feedback on how the service should be run. People told us that staff understood their needs and preferences well, and they received effective care and support from well-trained staff.
Staff understood how to keep people safe and could describe the correct steps they would take if they were concerned that abuse had taken place.
Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and investigated. Risk assessments were in place for people who used the service.
Call bells were not always responded to in the most responsive and timely way. Staff took an active part in meeting people's social wellbeing and this was viewed by the staff and registered manager as being just as important as meeting someone’s physical and personal care needs.
People had developed caring relationships with the staff that supported them. Relatives told us that there was a positive atmosphere and people were encouraged to take part in the activities they wanted to pursue. A wide range of activities were on offer to people.
The registered provider worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and followed the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
People lived in an environment that met their needs and enjoyed the food on offer. Living areas and equipment were clean and well maintained.
Medicines were managed safely and staff members understood their responsibilities. The registered manager undertook regular audits and improvements were carried out when these were needed. The quality of the service was monitored and assessed consistently.
People who used the service, family members, and visitors were encouraged to make comments, complaints, or compliments about the service.
The service had good links with the local community, including local schools and colleges. People who used the service, their family members, and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service they received.