10 February 2016
During a routine inspection
Blackbrook House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 55 older people who may also have dementia. Care is provided in two separate units which are located on the same floor level. At the time of our visit there were 40 people living in the service.
The service 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.
People were safe because staff supported them to understand how to keep safe and staff knew how to manage risk effectively. There were appropriate arrangements in place for medication to be stored and administered safely, and there were sufficient numbers of care staff with the correct skills and knowledge to safely meet people’s needs.
The Care Quality Commission monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and are required to report on what we find. The MCA sets out what must be done to make sure the human rights of people who may lack mental capacity to make decisions are protected. The DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main MCA code of practice. The registered manager had some understanding of MCA and DoLS, but had not ensured Mental capacity assessments had been carried out where people were not able to make decisions for themselves.
Inconsistencies across the service in relation to the quality of information included in people’s care records were found and improvements were required.
People did not always have input in planning for their care. Therefore people were not fully involved in making decisions about their care and support.
People had access to healthcare professionals. A choice of food and drink was available that reflected their nutritional needs, and took into account their personal lifestyle preferences or health care needs.
Staff had good relationships with people who used the service and were attentive to their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected at all times.
People were encouraged to follow their interests and hobbies. They were supported to keep in contact with their family and friends.
There was a strong management team who encouraged an open culture and who led by example. Staff morale was high and they felt that their views were valued.
The management team had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided, and to drive improvements where this was required.