• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: T H Russell Charitable Trust

St Ives House, St Ives Wood, Ashley Heath, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2ED (01425) 473822

Provided and run by:
T H Russell Charitable Trust

All Inspections

7 May 2014

During a routine inspection

A single inspector carried out this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, staff and the Chair of the board of trustees told us, what we observed and the documents and records we looked at.

If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report. This is a summary of what we found:

Is the service safe?

People were treated with respect by the staff, their dignity upheld and their independence promoted.

CQC monitors the operation of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which applies to care homes. While no applications had needed to be submitted we saw that proper procedures were in place, and the registered manager showed us evidence of how they reviewed the service provided to ensure people were safeguarded. Staff had received relevant training.

Medication was managed safely and administered by competent staff.

People were cared for by staff who were trained and well supported. We spoke with all four care staff on duty, one of whom said 'we are 100% supported, in and out of work.'

Is the service effective?

People told us they were well cared for and their needs were met. From speaking with staff and observing how they supported people it was clear that they knew people well and understood their needs.

Care plans were individualised and contained guidance that enabled staff to provide effective and consistent care.

The home had accreditation in an evidence based framework for ensuring that people received effective end of life care. This meant that individual wishes and preferences guided the care and support provided.

Staff had received training so that they could meet the needs of the people living at St Ives House.

Is the service caring?

People were cared for by staff who were caring and attentive. People told us they were able to do what they wanted to do when they wanted. We saw that care staff supported people in way that was unhurried. One person told us 'I decide how I spend my day'. Another said 'It's marvellous here.' A member of the care staff said 'I came into care because I care, and you can here'.

People were safe and their care and welfare needs met because there were effective systems in place to ensure staff were competent to do their jobs.

Is the service responsive?

Individual needs were assessed before people moved into the home and care plans were regularly reviewed. Personal files showed that individual preferences and interests were recorded. We saw how staff checked with people how they would like support to be given, and how they were sensitive to people's changing needs.

Is the service well-led?

Staff had a good understanding of the values that underpinned the care provided at the home. There were quality assurance processes in place. The Chair of the board told us how the trustees made sure they were aware of what was happening in the home and how people living at the home, their families and representatives were consulted about planned changes.

Staff confirmed they were also informed and involved in future plans and their views had been listened to.

26 June 2013

During a routine inspection

One person told us, "Staff come quickly when I ring for them." Another person told us: "When I was ill staff took very good care of me." People's needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. People told us that the food was very good. One person said; " Sometimes there is too much on my plate." Another person told us the food was the best they had ever had.

People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. People we spoke with told us that their rooms were cleaned each day. One person told us their en suite was immaculate. During our visit we observed staff wearing gloves and aprons when appropriate. All bathrooms had liquid hand soap and paper towels.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. People we spoke with told us that in their opinion there were enough staff to assist them during the day. For example, one person told us that trips out in the mini bus were organised each week and there was always staff to help.

People we spoke with knew how to complain and who to talk to. One person told us, " I would speak with the manager if I was unhappy." Another person told us that the registered manager's door was always open and they could talk to her about their worries.

5 March 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we spoke to four residents who lived at the home, and a visiting family member. We also spoke to three members of the care staff.

Residents told us that they liked living at the home, and felt that the staff respected their wishes and feelings. A resident told us "I am not really a sociable person, I enjoy my own company. I've never been railroaded into joining in activites." Another resident told us "the staff are respectful and polite."

Residents we spoke to told us they felt well cared for in the home. A resident said "the care is very good. I can't think of anywhere that it would be better." Another resident told us "they always explain what they are going to do, before they do anything - I'm quite comfortable here."

Residents told us that they felt safe living at the home. A resident told us "I have never had any problems with the staff here." A member of a residents family told us "I don't think there have been any problems, if there were any my mother would be the first one to complain. She has a phone, and we don't hear anything. She's better than she's been for a long time."

We found that the home had sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff on duty on the day of our inspection. We saw that the home had systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of services. These took account of residents views and comments, and ensured that residents benefitted from appropriate care and support.