9 and 10 December 2014
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 9 and 10 December 2014. The inspection was unannounced.
The service was last inspected in November 2013, when the service was meeting the regulations in all the areas inspected.
Hawksbury House is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 35 older people. It does not provide nursing care.
A registered manager was in post. This person was also the provider of the service. 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 told us they felt safe and secure in the home. Staff had been trained in how to recognise and respond to any actual or potential abuse and were fully aware of their responsibilities for protecting people. Professionals we spoke with during the inspection said they had never had any concerns about the safety and welfare of people living in the home. Any risks to people had been assessed and actions were taken to reduce such risks, where possible.
There were enough staff employed to ensure people’s safety and to respond quickly to any concerns raised. Shift patterns were arranged to meet people’s needs even at peak times. The staff team was experienced, skilled and knowledgeable about people’s needs and preferences.
People’s health and well-being was closely monitored and any changes were responded to appropriately. Routine health checks were arranged and referrals made to specialist health services, when necessary. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People were cared for by a consistent, stable and experienced staff team, who demonstrated a good knowledge of their life histories, likes and dislikes, interests and preferences. Staff had been given the training necessary to meet people’s needs, and were given appropriate support by the provider, in terms of supervision and appraisal.
People’s dietary needs were understood and any special nutritional requirements were met. People told us they enjoyed their meals, and could have snacks and drinks at any time.
Everyone we spoke with told us the staff were always very caring in their actions and attitudes, and treated them with respect, courtesy and sensitivity at all times. People said their privacy and dignity were protected, and that they were treated as valued individuals.
Nobody we spoke with told us they ever had any complaints about the service, but the service took any concerns very seriously and took appropriate steps to resolve them.
People living in the home, their relatives, staff and professionals all told us they thought the service was well-managed. The provider had an open door to everyone, and took account of people’s views in all aspects of people’s care and the running of the home. Regular meetings were held for people and their relatives, and suggestions were taken seriously and often implemented.
The culture in the service was one of continually striving to improve the service for those living in the home. Effective systems were in place for checking the quality of the service provided and for identifying areas for further development. Professionals told us the provider and her staff worked in partnership with them, in the best interests of people living in the home.