• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Bella Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

12 Carmarthen Road, St Judes, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 9EW (01752) 246145

Provided and run by:
Mrs Jayne Page

All Inspections

24 February 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Bella Care Home is a residential care Home. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three people. The service supports people with a learning disability and/or Autism. At the time of the inspection two people were living at the service.

The service is a Victorian style property with facilities on two floors. Bedrooms have en-suite toilet and washing facilities. There is a secure garden area at the rear of the property.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Systems were in place and Government guidance was being followed to help manage the risks and prevent the spread of COVID-19

Visitors to the service were prevented from catching and spreading the infection because safe and effective measures were in place. This included a vigilant check by staff to take people’s temperatures on entry, the completion of symptom questionnaires, and the prompting of the use of hand sanitiser and/or handwashing. Visiting times were staggered and attractive screening had been installed between the lounge and dining area so that people could meet and see their loved ones safely.

When visits were not possible people were supported to maintain contact with relatives through the use of mobile phones and sending letters. The registered manager and provider made contact with relatives every week to check they were well and to keep them updated. During the summer months people had been supported to have outside visits.

People were supported to access the community safely, and consideration had been given to additional activities to support people’s mental health and well-being.

Staff had received infection, prevention and control training, they wore PPE correctly, understood the importance of it, and spoke confidently about how they put it on and took it off in line with infection control guidelines.

The environment was clean and tidy throughout. Cleaning routines at the service had been increased which now included high touch areas, such as door handles and light switches. Staff understood the importance of regular handwashing to reduce the risks of transmission.

The provider participated in regular COVID-19 testing of people, staff and visitors. Best interest discussions had taken place when people had been assessed as lacking capacity to understand and make an informed decision about testing. Social stories had been used to help people understand and prepare to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The registered manager had a good understanding of infection, prevention and control guidance and was confident in their decision-making processes, liaised with relevant agencies, and knew how to access local support.

To assess and monitor ongoing infection and control practices within the service, the registered manager had spot checks in place. Should an outbreak occur the registered manager had a contingency plan in place and staff were confident about what action to take.

2 September 2017

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 2 September 2017 and was unannounced. Bella Care Home is a residential care home for up to three people. It specialises in the care of people who have a learning disability.

People were not all able to fully verbalise their views and used other methods of communication, for example pictures and sign language. We therefore spent some time observing people.

The service had a registered manager, who is also the registered provider. 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.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated good;

One staff said; “Lovely lovely place. I couldn’t work anywhere else.” A relative recorded onto a survey; “We are happy (with Bella Care Home). It’s brilliant!”

People remained safe at the service. There were sufficient staff to support people and meet their needs including with any activities undertaken. Completed risk assessments had enable people to retain as much independence as possible and to receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others. This is particularly important for people who may at times challenge others. People received their medicines safely.

People continued to receive care from staff who had the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support them. Staff were well trained and competent. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People's healthcare needs were monitored by the staff and people had access to healthcare professionals according to their assessed needs.

The staff were very kind and caring and people had built strong long term relationships with the staff. We observed staff being patient and kind. There was a happy and relaxed atmosphere in the service. People's privacy was respected. People where possible, or their representatives, were involved in decisions about the care and support people received.

The service remained responsive to people's individual needs and provided personalised care and support. People were able to make choices about their day to day lives. Complaints were fully investigated and responded to. People were assisted to take part in a wide range of activities and trips out according to their individual interests.

The service continued to be well led. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable. The registered manager had sought people's views to make sure people were at the heart of any changes within the home. The registered manager monitored systems which enabled them to identify good practices and areas of improvement.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

28 August 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on the 28 August 2015 and was unannounced. We last inspected the service on 19 October 2013 and found no concerns.

Bella Care Home provides care to people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. They provide residential care without nursing for up to three people.

The service does not require a registered manager as it is owned and run by the registered provider Mrs Jayne Page.

People were protected by staff trained in recognising how to identify abuse and keep people safe from abuse. Staff were recruited safely. Staff underwent regular training, supervision and appraisal to ensure they were able to remain effective in their role.

Risk assessments were in place to assess and reduce the possibility that people may come to harm. Staff were trained in identifying and meeting people’s specific, highly complex needs. There were clear links with risk assessments, care plans and training for staff to ensure people’s needs were met. People’s medicine was administered safely.

People had their right to consent to care respected. People had their mental capacity assessed in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, as required.

Staff treated people with kindness and respect. People’s dignity was respected at all times. People were involved in planning their care and choosing how they wanted their day to look like. People were supported to take an active role in their local community. Activities were provided that supported people to meet their needs and provided entertainment.

Staff worked closely with people to ensure any complaints, concerns and feedback on the service were listened to and responded to quickly.

There were clear systems of governance and leadership in place. Staff told us the provider was approachable and responsive to any new ideas. The provider ensured the quality of the service was maintained.

19 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We met and spoke to all the people who used the service, spoke to staff about the care given and looked at the care records of the three people using the service. We looked at other records and observed staff working with people. We also spoke with the registered provider and checked the provider's records.

We saw staff speak to people in a way that demonstrated a good understanding of people's choices and preferences. We saw that the staff had a good understanding of people's individual needs and that they respected people's privacy and dignity.

During our visit to the home we saw sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of people living in the home. We saw staff received the training they required to carry out their roles.

We saw that people's personal support plans described their needs and how those needs were met. We saw records that showed that a best interest meeting had been arranged to determine whether a particular medical procedure was in a person's best interest.

We saw that medication was administered by suitably trained staff. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to administer and record medication.

We saw that Bella Care Home held all records securely to protect people's confidentiality.

7 October 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit we spoke with the three people who lived in the home. Two people did not talk to us about what it was like to live in the home but we observed their interactions with staff and others to assess their well being. We spoke with one staff member and the owner.

We looked around the home and found that it was clean and hygienic. We examined the care files belonging to the three people who lived in the home and found that they were up to date and reviewed as people's needs/wishes changed.

People told us, and we observed, that they were happy living in the home and had their own personal routines and activities. We found that people were involved and supported to make decisions about their care and support needs and these were well met by the staff team. The person who talked to us about life in the home said 'everything's all right' and the staff were "nice". People saw healthcare professionals on a regular basis or when they needed them.

Staff were friendly and respected people's rights to privacy, dignity, and independence. There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs with additional staff available when required. Staff said they had received training to enable them to carry out their roles competently.

There were effective systems for safeguarding people from abuse and legal safeguards, which protect people unable to make decisions about their own welfare, were understood by staff and used to protect people's rights.