Snowdrop Place Care Home

Snowdrop Place Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 68 people. The service provides support to older people and those who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service. Snowdrop Place Care Home accommodates people in a purpose-built building. People are accommodated across two floors and the first floor specialised in providing care to people living with dementia. People had access to a range of communal areas including dining, cinema, salon, and lounge areas with a lift to enable people to move between floors.

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

Some information about people’s personal risk and risk management plans were inconsistent or incomplete. Information in respect of people’s medicines were not always detailed to ensure staff had access to all required information to support consistent administration of all people’s medicines. We received feedback from people, relatives, and staff that they felt staffing levels needed to be improved. Staff knew how to raise concerns about abuse and neglect to keep people safe, and there was a clear safeguarding process in place to record, report and respond to information of concern.

The environment did not always support people’s orientation, accessibility and independence. Most people told us they found food options adequate, but quality and variety did not always meet people’s preferences or expectations. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service mostly supported this practice.

We received mostly positive feedback that people were provided with kind, caring and compassionate support. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff promoted people’s independence where possible.

People’s care records were person-centred and captured their personal history, things that were important to them and their preferences. There were dedicated activities staff and people were given opportunities to join in with a range of activity sessions and events.

Quality assurance and governance systems in place were not always effective or robust. Although there was a range of auditing systems in place, they did not identify the concerns we found at this inspection. We identified several examples where people’s care records were not always consistent, accurate or up to date to reflect the care they required.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 16 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to good governance and clear, up to date and accurate records at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

We have recommended the provider reviews and implements all relevant best practice guidance in respect of care home environments to promote all people’s independence.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.