Archived: Manor Farm

Manor Farm provides accommodation and residential care for 17 older people. At the time of our inspection the home was providing support to 11 people. The home had a registered manager in post. 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.

Systems were in place to protected people from the risk of abuse because staff had received appropriate support and training. This enabled them to identify the possibility of abuse and take appropriate actions to report and escalate concerns. Risks were assessed and managed appropriately. Risk assessments were person centred, detailed and responsive to people's needs. There were systems in place to monitor the safety of the environment and equipment used within the home. There were arrangements in place to deal with emergencies.

There were safe staff recruitment practices in place and appropriate recruitment checks were conducted before staff were employed ensuring people were supported by staff that were suitable for their role. There were processes in place to ensure new staff were inducted into the home appropriately and staff received regular training, supervision and annual appraisals. Staff were aware of the importance of gaining consent for the support they offered people. The registered manager and staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards legislation.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to a range of health and social care professionals when required. People's nutritional needs and preferences were met. Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of the people they supported and could describe peoples' preferences as to how they liked to be supported. Staff spoke with and treated people in a respectful and caring manner and interactions between people, their relatives and staff were relaxed and friendly. The atmosphere in the home was open, friendly and welcoming. People felt that the registered manager and staff were approachable.

People received care and treatment in accordance with their identified needs and wishes. Care plans documented information about people's personal history, choices and preferences, preferred activities and people's ability to communicate. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity. People and their relatives were made welcome in the home. People were supported to engage in a range of activities that met their needs and reflected their interests.

There were systems and processes in place to monitor and evaluate the quality of the service provided. The management of the home's records were maintained to a good standard. We found the records we inspected were clear and easily accessible. There was a complaints policy and procedure in place and information on how to make a complaint was on display in the reception area of the home so it was accessible to all.

A single inspector carried out this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer the 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, relatives and staff told us, what we observed and the 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 caring?

Our observations showed us that people living in the service were treated with respect at all times. Staff knew the routines that people had chosen and were aware of their care and support needs. We saw staff supporting people in a caring and considerate manner.

Is the service responsive?

We saw that people's individual social and physical needs were being met. People were encouraged to discuss events with members of staff. We saw that staff allowed time for the individual to reply and talk at their own pace, respecting their dignity and choices. People living at the service told us that staff were always available to provide any care or assistance they needed.

Is the service safe?

Records showed us that risk assessments were completed for any activities inside and outside of the service. All assessments included an evaluation for the level of risk that was presented plus any actions to be taken to reduce or eliminate such risks. Lawful requirements under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were recognised and staff expressed a thorough knowledge of matters relating to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs).

Staff personnel records contained all of the information required by the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This meant that the staff members employed were suitable and had the qualifications, skills and experience needed to support people living at the service.

Is the service effective?

We saw positive interaction between members of staff and people who lived in the service. People were laughing and talking between themselves and with staff throughout the home in a relaxed manner.

People were smiling, particularly when staff were speaking with them. Rooms were designed specifically to meet the needs of people who lived in the service. The mobility and daily routines of people were supported with appropriate equipment. The bedrooms we saw reflected the personality of the person and people who lived at the service told us they were comfortable and well cared for by staff.

Is the service well led?

Staff explained that they undertook regular training and we saw a list of dates that showed us that training was updated regularly. People were therefore supported by a staff team who knew how to provide support in a safe and appropriate way.

Quality assurance systems were in place and regular quality audits were completed for all areas of the service. We saw records that clearly documented the observations that had been made and when any improvements were to be completed.

You can see our judgements on the front page of this report.

We looked at care plans that clearly explained how a person living in the home preferred to be supported. Records told us about the person and clearly explained how they had spent their day. We saw information about the choices that people using the service had made. People living in the home told us that their needs were regularly discussed and that staff met their needs and were always very helpful. One family member told us that they were very happy with the way the home was being run and that the manager, as well as members of staff, worked hard to ensure people were happy and appropriately supported.

There were appropriate measures and procedures in place to regularly assess the building to support the safety and wellbeing of people living in the home. This meant that the safety of people living at the home was regularly monitored.

We saw records that showed us a quality audit was regularly undertaken by the organisation to monitor the quality of the service that was being provided. There were also monitoring systems in the home that informed the development of new processes. People told us during our discussions that they would welcome the opportunity to have some trips out on occasions as not everyone had family close by to take them out.

We saw that people's care needs were clearly documented and regularly reviewed. Staff were given clear and detailed guidance on how to help people meet their care needs.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at manor Farm. Staff we spoke with demonstrated to us a clear understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults guidance and procedures.

Staff members we spoke with told us they felt supported in their work, and that they were well trained to be able to provide care and support to people living at Manor Farm.

We saw that people were made aware of how to make a complaint if they wanted to. We also saw that complaints made were responded to quickly and appropriately.