6 March 2015
During a routine inspection
We conducted an unannounced inspection of Shipton House on 6 March 2015. The service provides care, support and accommodation for up to 13 older people with dementia. There were 11 people using the service when we visited.
At our last inspection on 13 May 2013 the service met the regulations we inspected.
The service had a manager in post who was in the process of registering with the CQC. 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.
The service had a procedure for safeguarding adults from abuse and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported. The manager and staff had received training on safeguarding adults within the last year and were able to explain the possible signs of abuse as well as the correct procedure to follow if they had concerns.
Risk assessments were based on people’s individual needs and lifestyle choices. We saw evidence that people were involved in decisions relating to risks they wanted to take and staff demonstrated an understanding of how to manage this.
Staff received first aid training every year and were able to explain how they would respond to a medical emergency which included accurate recording and reporting of matters.
There were enough, safely recruited staff available to meet people’s needs. Staffing numbers were adjusted depending on people’s requirements.
Medicines were managed safely. Records were kept when medicines were administered, and appropriate checks were undertaken by staff. Records were clear and accurate and regular auditing of medicines was undertaken.
Staff were trained in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which is a law to protect people who do not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of their responsibilities.
People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and how their needs were met. People had care plans in place that reflected their assessed needs and staff followed these.
Recruitment procedures ensured that only people who were deemed suitable worked within the service. There was an induction programme for new staff, which prepared them for their role. Staff were provided with a range of ongoing training to help them carry out their duties. Staff received regular supervision and appraisal to support them to meet people’s needs.
People were supported to eat and drink a balanced diet that they enjoyed and their nutritional needs were monitored. People were supported effectively with their health needs and had access to a range of healthcare professionals.
People told us staff treated them in a caring and respectful way. People’s privacy and dignity was respected and we observed positive interactions between people and staff throughout our visit. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s life histories and their individual preferences and choices.
Staff and people who used the service felt able to speak with the manager and provided feedback on the service. They knew how to make complaints and there was an effective complaints policy and procedure in place. We found complaints were dealt with appropriately and in accordance with the policy.
The service carried out regular audits to monitor the quality of the service and to plan improvements. Where concerns were identified action plans were put in place to rectify these. Staff carried out an annual survey to obtain people’s feedback and we saw the results of the most recent survey were positive.
Staff worked with other organisations to implement best practice. The service also had good links with the local community. People told us they participated in activities at local day centres and that they enjoyed doing so.