Archived: The Alexandra

Alexandra Centre is a care home without nursing for adults with enduring mental health conditions. It is a large converted house set in a residential suburb of Bournemouth. It is registered for up to 14 people. There were 8 people living there at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us that the service provided staff who were caring and supportive. They received care that was responsive to their individual needs and staff had a good understanding of how people preferred to have their care and support provided. People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care.

Staff supported people to take medicines safely. Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm including the prevention of avoidable infection. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor practice.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment practices were followed, and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. Staff received induction and on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles positively and effectively.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People and where appropriate their relatives were involved in decisions about their care.

Governance systems and oversight of the service was robust. Issues were identified, and actions taken to address any shortfalls.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 19 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Alexandra Care Centre provides accommodation and personal care for up to 14 people, some of whom are living with disabilities both physical and sensory. There are bedrooms both on the ground and first floor. There is a small dining room and lounge area with a conservatory attached with an additional area for seating and activities. Space is limited in the communal area.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 the service was safe. All staff had completed safeguarding training and were supported to raise concerns to ensure people did not come to harm.

Risks were assessed and managed in a way that promoted the person’s independence in the least restrictive way.

Recruitment was robust ensuring that only the right people were employed. The registered manager told us they were looking for people with the right qualities to support people living in the home.

People were supported by staff that had the training and support they needed to meet people’s needs.

Staff were encouraged to develop their learning. There were enough staff on each shift to enable people to participate in a range of activities. The staff worked well as a team at a time of staff shortages.

Medicines were managed safely. People received their medicines at the right time.

Staff followed legislation in place to protect people’s rights. Appropriate advice had been sought to ensure people were protected.

People were involved in their care and support. Care plan were detailed and reflected the person’s needs and preferences and were regularly reviewed.

Meals were a social occasion and there was support when necessary to ensure people had enough to eat and drink.

People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing with regular checks when necessary.

People were confident to raise concerns when they were unhappy or worried.

The quality of care was monitored and there were system in place to ensure action was taken when standards were not met.

People living were positive about living at the home. One person told us "I like living here and I have the support I need", another person said "I wouldn't change a thing, the staff are great".

We made observations throughout the visit and saw people being offered choices as to what they wanted to eat or what activities they wanted to take part in during the day.

Staff were observed to support people in a calm and respectful manner explaining to people what they were doing. Clear information was given to people by staff. People were appropriately assisted with mobility needs.

Before people received any care or treatment, they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes.

Individualised care plans detailed the support and care each person required. People confirmed they received the support and care they needed and liked. The home ensured relevant health care professionals were contacted when needed.

Staff had received safeguarding training and were able to say what action they would take if concerns were raised or observed. People said they felt safe living at the home.

People said that staff were available when they needed them and that call bells were promptly answered.

People said that if they had any concerns or complaints they would raise these with the manager. Nobody had any concerns when we spoke with them.

We found that the provider had complied with the compliance action issued relating to the care and welfare of people using the service.

We found that the provider had complied with the compliance issued relating to the recruitment of staff.

People living at Alexandra Centre were positive about their experience of living at the home and no one had any complaints or concerns about how the home was run and managed.

People told us that they had good relationships with the staff who were described as kind and caring. They told us that the home was kept clean and warm. They said the standard of food was good. Activities were arranged that people could choose to participate in.

People told us that they were involved in decisions about how they were looked after and had choices about how they wished to spend their day.

We found appropriate arrangements were in place in relation to the obtaining, storage and dispensing of medicines.

Appropriate checks had not been undertaken before staff began work.

The provider had quality assurance systems in place.