This inspection took place on 20 August 2015 and was unannounced. We returned to the home on 26 August 2015 to complete our inspection.
Sophia Care Home is a care home registered for seven people with a learning disability situated in Kenton. At the time of our inspection there were two vacancies at the home. The people who used the service had significant support needs because of their learning disabilities. The majority of people had additional needs such as autistic spectrum conditions, mental health conditions, and communication impairments.
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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Two people told us that they felt safe living at Sophia Care Home. We saw that people were comfortable and familiar with the staff supporting them.
Staff members had received training in safeguarding of adults, and were able to demonstrate their understanding of what this meant for the people they were supporting. They were knowledgeable about their role in ensuring that people were safe and that concerns were reported appropriately.
Medicines at the service were well managed. People’s medicines were managed and given to them appropriately and records of medicines were well maintained.
We saw that staff at the service supported people in a caring and respectful way, and responded promptly to meet their needs and requests. There were enough staff members on duty to meet the needs of the people using the service.
The service was not meeting the requirements of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Information about capacity was included in people’s care plans. However an application for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation had not been made to the relevant local authority to ensure that a person who was unable to make informed decisions about their safety was not inappropriately restricted.
Staff who worked at the service received regular relevant training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. Appropriate checks took place as part of the recruitment process to ensure that staff were suitable for the work that they would be undertaking. All staff members received regular supervision from a manager, and those whom we spoke with told us that they felt well supported.
People told us that they liked the food at the service. Meals provided were varied and met guidance provided in people’s care plans. Alternatives were offered where required, and drinks and snacks were available to people throughout the day.
Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and provided detailed guidance for staff around meeting people’s needs.
The service provided a range of activities for people to participate in throughout the week. An annual holiday took place for people who were unable to take holidays with their relatives. Staff members engaged people supportively in participation in activities. People’s cultural, religious and social needs were supported by the service and detailed information about these was contained in people’s care plans.
The service had a complaints procedure that was provided in an easy read format. People told us that they would tell the manager or staff member if they were unhappy about anything.
People’s health needs were regularly reviewed. The service liaised with health professionals to ensure that people received the support that they needed.
We saw that there were systems in place to review and monitor the quality of the service, and action plans had been put in place and addressed where there were concerns. Feedback from people who used the service, their family members and other professionals was positive. Policies and procedures were up to date.
People who used the service and staff members spoke positively about the management of the home.
We found one breach of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.