Archived: Lytchetts

Is the service safe?

People told us they felt safe. Staff were trained in safeguarding and understood their role in preventing and reporting abuse. Checks on new staff were completed before they started work. The service worked with other agencies to help keep people safe, however we found a risk assessment which was not detailed enough and therefore the well-being of others may have been affected. We found for one person that a recommendation from a health professional had not been followed up in a timely way. We have asked the provider to tell us how they are going to rectify this.

Is the service effective?

People told us that they were satisfied with the care they received. From our observations and speaking with people and staff we saw that care plans were up to date. People's views about the service were sought and acted upon.

We found that the provider was aware of the need to ensure people consented to live at the home and to receive their care and support.

Staff told us they received regular supervision and training.

Is the service caring?

Staff demonstrated care and kindness towards people and offered choice. We saw that people were offered choices in their meals and were asked about their preferences. We saw people being responded to when they asked for help, and found examples where people had asked for changes in their environment and that these had been made. One person told us, “Yes everyone here is very helpful.” Another person told us, “ nowhere is as good as your own home but they try their best.”

Is the service responsive?

We found people’s needs had been assessed and reviewed and that care plans contained guidance for staff about people's preferences and specific care and support needs.

Is the service well-led?

The service had a registered manager who was working with the owner, deputy manager and care staff to update the care planning and management of the home. Care plans had been reviewed and updated and record keeping had improved since the last inspection. Some staff did not always feel supported and the registered manager told us they were working on improvements to build an effective team. We found there were checks on the environment of the house and we saw that repairs and refurbishments were made in response to reports from the management team. Monitoring of the service took place and helped to provide information about the effectiveness of the service.

People told us how staff respect their daily routines. One person told us that 'Staff know when I like to get up in the morning and that I liked to return my room after dinner for a sleep.'

People told us that they felt safe at the home and were confident that staff would help them sort out any problems they had.

The provider had systems in place to manage medication that they gave to the people living at the home. These systems were regularly audited.

The staff were supported in the roles they undertook but the recruitment of new staff was not carried out safely.

The provider had systems in place to monitor the service that they provided and to consult with the people living at the home.

People told us that they were consulted about the way the home was run. They told us that they could raise issues with the staff or manager and were confident that they would be listened too and action would be taken.

We found that the provider had made improvements to ensure that there was an effective system to monitor the quality of the service provision.

People's privacy and dignity were respected, people were consulted about their care needs. One person told us that before they moved in staff had discussed with them what their needs were and agreed how they would be met.

People told us that their care needs were met. The staff we spoke with were able to tell us some of the needs of people and how they were to be met. However risk assessments and care plans did not reflect the staff's comments. One person told us 'They try their hardest to understand me and are always professional when assisting me"

We looked around the home and found it was clean and maintained in good order.

We looked at five care records and found that they were inaccurate and not kept up to date. We looked at the quality assurance process employed at the home and found that there were no action plans in place to ensure the home establishes and maintains the standards required.