Archived: Sycamores

' Is the service safe?

' Is the service effective?

' Is the service caring?

' Is the service responsive?

' Is the service well led?

This is a summary of what we found.

Is the service safe?

We met with four of the people who used the service and they told us that they liked living at Sycamores. We spent time with them and observed how they were supported by the staff and we spoke to two people's relatives. We saw that staff treated people with respect and dignity. Relatives told us that they were very happy with the service provided. They said people were safe and well cared for. One relative told us 'we are extremely fortunate that he is there. He is most definitely safe and I would not hesitate to recommend the service to anyone who wanted to place their relative there.'

Staff had received training to ensure that they supported people safely. This included safeguarding vulnerable adults. People's files included risk assessments relevant to each individual. They indicated the risks to the person and how these could be minimised to ensure that they were supported as safely as possible.

The home had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards although no applications had needed to be submitted.

Is the service effective?

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure

people's safety and welfare. A relative told us 'they have been fantastic whilst he has been ill.' Another said 'they look after his health well. Any problems and they consult the doctor." There was a stable staff team and they were able to recognise if people were unwell or in pain and took the necessary action.

People's care needs were assessed and plans of care developed from these. Staff had a good understanding of how to meet people's individual and assessed needs and were aware of individual preferences. We saw that care plans were up to date. This meant that staff had current information and details to enable them to effectively meet people's needs.

Is the service caring?

Relatives spoke highly of the care provided by the staff team. One relative told us 'when he was admitted to hospital a member of staff did not leave until 3am as they stayed with him until he was asleep.' We saw that staff supported people in a respectful and kind way. They offered people choices and talked to them about what was happening or what they needed to do.

People's preferences and diverse needs were recorded and care and support was provided in accordance with this. People's religious and social needs were identified and addressed. They went to mass and also to a local gospel church. People were also supported to be part of the wider community. They went out to eat, to clubs and on day trips.

Is the service responsive?

Care staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about the needs of people they supported and how to meet them. They told us how they identified if a person was unwell and the action that they took if this occurred. We found that staff provided daily support to people whilst they were in hospital to minimise their anxiety and to ensure that they received the care that they needed.

We saw that care plans included information about people's likes, dislikes and preferences and had been recently reviewed and updated to ensure they had correct and up to date information about people's needs and how these should be met. The service was responsive to people's changing condition and needs. One person was discharged from hospital on the day of the inspection. Their relative told us 'when we visited (2 days later) his care plan had already been updated and staff told us that they had been made aware of his changed needs.'

Is the service well led?

The provider was also the registered manager. Staff we spoke with said they felt the home was well managed and that they received the support and guidance that they needed to carry out their duties and to meet people's needs. One member of staff told us 'you can talk to the manager and her support is good. She will come to the home when needed.'

Relatives told us that they had contact with the manager and that there were 'good channels of communication'. One relative told us 'the service is substantially well led.' Another said 'the manager makes sure everything is up to standard. Very professional.'

We found that there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs and both staff and relatives confirmed this. A relative told us 'I don't have any concerns about staffing.' A member of staff said 'absolutely always enough staff to meet people's needs.'

People had confidence that if they were not happy about anything the manager would address this. One relative said 'the manager explained about the complaints procedure and what to do if we needed to escalate anything.' Another told us 'I can contact the manager at any time. We have got her mobile number.' People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.