Background to this inspection
Updated
18 February 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 22 December 2015 and was unannounced. The last inspection of this service was in September 2013. The service was compliant with the regulations inspected at that time.
The inspection team consisted of one inspector and a specialist advisor for nursing, Mental Capacity act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. On this occasion the specialist advisor looked at medicine management and how the home managed issues relating to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included speaking with the local authority contracts and safeguarding teams. On this occasion we did not ask the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
On the day of our inspection we spoke with five people who lived at Alexander house, two visitors, the senior care assistant in charge, the area manager, three care workers, the cook, the activities organiser and a visiting district nurse.
We spent time observing care in the lounge and dining room to help us understand the experience of people using the service who could not express their views to us. We looked around the building including bedrooms, bathrooms and communal areas. We also spent time looking at records, which included; two people’s care records, four staff recruitment files and records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
18 February 2016
This inspection took place on 22 December 2015 and was unannounced. The last inspection of this service was in September 2013. The service was compliant with the regulations inspected at that time.
Alexander House provides residential care for up to 20 older people. Bedrooms are situated over two floors with communal lounges and dining room on the ground floor.
There has been a registered manager at the home for several years. 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. The registered manager was not available on the day of our inspection.
People who used the service told us they felt safe and staff knew how to maintain people's safety.
Recruitment processes were robust and thorough checks were always completed before staff started work to make sure they were safe and suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Medications were managed safely.
Staff received the training they needed to support them in their roles. Staff received good support from the registered manager.
There were enough staff on duty to make sure people’s care needs were met and people enjoyed a range of meaningful activities and social events.
The home was well maintained and comfortable. People’s bedrooms were personalised and the home was clean and tidy.
People's healthcare needs were met with the support of visiting healthcare professionals.
People told us staff were caring and we witnessed staff interacting with people in a kind, respectful and friendly manner.
The service was meeting the legal requirements relating to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People enjoyed the food at the home and people's nutritional needs were managed well.
Care was planned and delivered with a person centred approach and in line with people's preferences and wishes.
The home was well managed and staff worked as a team.
Visitors told us they were made to feel very welcome and there was a real family atmosphere in the home.