19 May 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection was carried out on 19 May 2015 and was unannounced.
Freeman House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 48 older people. There was 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
When we last inspected the service on 4 July 2013 we found them to be meeting the required standards. At this inspection we found that they had continued to meet the standards. However, there were areas which required improvement.
The provision of activities in the home required a review to ensure they were meeting everyone’s individual needs. Communication in the home, in particular between staff, people and their relatives required improvement.
The home is merging with another Quantum Care home in September at a new building. Plans were in place to ease transition and ensure people living at the home, their relatives and staff were kept informed of the progress and involved in the process.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are put in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. At the time of the inspection applications had been made to the local authority in relation to people who lived at the service and were pending an outcome. Staff were fully aware of their role in relation to MCA and DoLS and how people were at risk of being deprived of their liberty.
People had their individual needs met. Staff knew people well and provided support in a timely manner. There was sufficient food and drink available and people were assisted to eat and drink where needed.
People had regular access to visiting health and social care professionals. Staff responded to people’s changing health needs and sought the appropriate guidance or care by healthcare professionals. Medicines were managed safely to ensure people received them in accordance with their needs.
Staff were clear on how to identify and report any concerns relating to a person’s safety and welfare. The manager responded to all concerns or complaints appropriately when they were made aware of them.
Staff were recruited through a robust procedure and provided with regular training to ensure their knowledge was up to date. Staff were clear on what their role. People and staff were positive about the manager and their leadership.