Edward House

Updated 31 October 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 7 and 8 September 2017 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an Expert-by-Experience. This is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications, which are events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about, and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. This included the local authority who commissioned services from the provider.

During the inspection we spoke with eight people and two relatives. We spoke with three members of the care staff as well as the cook, deputy manager, registered manager, regional manager and the provider. We spoke with a visiting social worker and a person providing an exercise class. We looked at the care records for five people living at the home as well as four staff recruitment records. We reviewed the medicine administration of records of 14 people as well as other information related to the management and quality of the service. This included quality assurance audits, training information for support staff, staff duty rotas, meeting minutes and arrangements for managing complaints.

After the inspection we received feedback from additional professionals including a social worker, physiotherapist and funeral director who gave us their views on the quality of the service provided.

Updated 31 October 2017

Edward House is a residential home that provides personal care for up to 44 older people, some of who were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 31 people living in the home. At the last inspection, in June 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good, however the rating for ‘Caring’ has improved from Good to Outstanding.

People were safe and continued to receive safe care. The risks to people’s safety were regularly reviewed and processes were in place to protect people from avoidable harm. Sufficient numbers of staff were in place to keep people safe and safe recruitment procedures ensured people were protected from the risks of unsuitable staff. People’s medicines were managed safely; although a small number of protocols relating to ‘as needed’ medicines were required.

Staff were well trained, felt supported and were able to carry out their role effectively. Where people were able to make their own decisions about their care and support needs, their wishes were respected by staff. Where people were unable, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were always followed. People were encouraged to eat and drink healthily. People’s day to day health needs were monitored and referrals to external professionals were made where needed and in a timely manner. External professionals felt staff responded to their guidance when provided.

People were supported by staff who were very kind and caring and treated them with respect and dignity. People were encouraged to lead independent lives and care and support was tailored to enable people to do so. People had an excellent relationship with the staff. All people were treated equally with a strong emphasis on supporting people’s diverse needs, including their religion. People were supported to lead their lives in the way they wanted with their views and opinions being respected. People were provided with the information they needed if they wished to speak with an independent advocate, to support them with decisions about their care. People’s friends and relatives were able to visit whenever they wanted to and where relatives were unable to visit, alternative methods were used to support family contact.

People were supported to carry out the activities that interested them. Care plans were person centred and focused on what was important to each person. People felt able to make a complaint and that it would be acted.

The service was well-led. People, relatives, staff and professionals commented positively about the registered manager. There was a calm, open and friendly atmosphere at the home which resulted in a high quality of service for people. Effective auditing processes were in place, with regular input from representatives of the provider.