Archived: Overcliff House

Updated 14 July 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 1 and 2 June 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

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 reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the home as part of our inspection. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send us within required timescales.

During the inspection we spoke with ten people who used the service about the care and support they received. We also spoke with the registered manager, three staff, the chef, two visiting health professionals and two relatives. We looked at four care records, three staff training and recruitment files and other records relevant to the running of the service. This included policies and procedures. We also looked at the provider's quality assurance systems.

Updated 14 July 2016

We inspected the service unannounced on 1 and 2 June 2016. Overcliff House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 18 older people who are living with dementia. On the day of our inspection there were 18 people living at the home.

The home had a registered manager who was available 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.

People's risks were considered, managed and reviewed to keep people safe. All the people we spoke with told us they felt safe. Where possible, people had choice and control over their lives and were supported to engage in activities within the home. People participated in a range of daily activities both in the home which were meaningful and promoted their independence. People who used the service, and their relatives, said they felt safe and well looked after.

Staff met people's needs effectively and people told us that they were all kind and caring. Staff told us that they enjoyed working at the home and they were very knowledgeable about people's needs, preferences and life experiences. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity.

Staff had a good understanding of what constituted abuse and told us that they would be confident to recognise and report it.

There were enough staff to provide safe care and social activities. People and relatives we spoke with were satisfied with staffing levels.

Recruitment and selection was carried out safely with appropriate checks made before new staff could start working in the home.

Staff managed medicines safely. They gave them as prescribed and recorded, stored and disposed of them correctly. People were able to manage their own medicines if they were able to do so safely. People said staff gave them their medicines when they needed them.

People were supported well with their health needs and the provider sought information and advice swiftly where needed.

People told us they were offered a choice of meals. They said the meals were good and they were offered snacks and drinks, day and night.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People's care records were mostly comprehensive and detailed people's preferences. Records were regularly updated to reflect people's changing needs. People and their families were involved in the planning of their care.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to.