Our inspection team was made up of an inspector, during this visit we were able to answer our five questions; Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with the staff supporting people who used the service and from looking at records.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
One person we spoke with at the home told us 'I feel safe here, the staff are kind and they look after me well'
We saw that people who lived in the home were treated with respect and dignity by the staff. Systems were in place to make sure that the manager and staff team learn from events such as accidents and incidents. There were risk assessments and instructions for staff on how to reduce risk in place which were reviewed regularly. This reduced the risks to people and helped the service to continually improve.
The home had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. We found that staff had received training and understood their responsibilities in regard to this.
The service was safe, clean and hygienic.
The home was clean and well maintained and there were systems in place to monitor the cleaning of the home. Policies and procedures such as infection control and bodily fluid spillage were available to staff, these gave instructions to staff about how to keep people safe and reduce the risk of infection.
Staff had received training to help them keep people safe, they included safeguarding vulnerable adults, infection control and food hygiene.
Is the service effective?
People's health and care needs were assessed with them, and they were involved in writing their plans of care. We spoke with staff and they had a very good understanding of peoples agreed needs and the support that they were to provide. People's needs were taken into account when organising outings and other in house activities.
We spoke with the people who lived in the home, they confirmed that they received the care and support that they had asked for and that was in their care plan. One person said that they were involved in the care plan with their family and care manager, they said 'Staff always ask me before they help me, and I get to say what I want help with'. This showed the care planning system was effective.
The home also had systems in place to ensure the day to day running of the home, for example all items in the fridge were labelled when they were opened and when they needed to be disposed of by. Staff completed a schedule each week which also checks for example food in tins and packets to ensure they are in date and safe for people to eat.
Is the service caring?
We spoke to the two people who lived in the home at the time of our visit. One person said, "I am happy here, the staff help me a lot'. The other person also told us they liked to live in the home, they said 'Staff are all nice to me, they look after me, they make sure I am ok'.
People were supported by kind and attentive staff. We saw that care workers showed patience and gave encouragement when supporting people.
People's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes. For example one person said, 'I do like to go to church sometimes, I don't go every week but the staff never mind taking me when I want to go'.
Is the service responsive?
We found that staff listen to the people they cared for, for example one person said they would like a Chinese meal as they had not had one for a long time. The staff member arranged a Chinese take away on the menu for the following week.
We also saw in the daily records that when people who lived at the home were not well they made appointments with the persons GP, and followed the instructions they were given.
Is the service well-led?
The staff and the manager listened to the people who lived in the home and what they liked to do and there capabilities. The people were put first in the way the home ran day to day.
The service worked well with other agencies and services to make sure people received their care in a joined up way.
The service has a quality assurance system, records seen by us showed that identified shortfalls were addressed promptly. As a result the quality of the service was continuingly improving.
Staff told us they were clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff had a good understanding of their role within the home and the quality assurance processes which were in place. This helped to ensure that people received a good quality service at all times.