Archived: Goodwins Residential Care Home

We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask:

' 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?

There was one person who used the service at the time of our inspection. We looked at this person's care record. They had a care plan and risk assessment which covered their needs. We saw monthly reviews of the care plans had taken place. These reviews helped in monitoring whether care records were up to date and reflected people's current needs so that any necessary actions could be identified at an early stage.

Is the service effective?

We spoke with one member of staff who explained how they involved the person in decisions about their care. For example, by asking the person what they wanted and showing them options, when required.

We observed the person was able to get up when they wished. We heard them being offered choices, such as what they would like to eat for breakfast.

It was clear from our observations and from speaking with staff that they had a good understanding of the person's care and support needs.

Is the service caring?

We saw staff showed patience and gave encouragement when supporting the person who used the service. The person was able to do things at their own pace and was not rushed.

A communications diary was used to record the day to day activities and social engagement of the person who used the service. We saw the person took part in a variety of activities and outings. The person was going on holiday with the manager and her family. The person was excited and happy about going away.

Is the service responsive?

The person's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home. We saw the person's care plan and risk assessments had been kept up to date.

The person had a service user guide in their room. This included information regarding the complaints system. The provider may find it useful to note that the complaints policy was not available in a format which met the person's needs, such as an easy read report.

Is the service well-led?

The residential home was a small family run home. We found the environment was clean, tidy and homely. There was one person who used the service at the time of our inspection. The systems assessing and monitoring the service were therefore informal. We saw care records were reviewed monthly and updated as appropriate.

We saw feedback questionnaires were available in order to obtain people's views about the quality of service. In practice we were informed that feedback was obtained on a day to day basis through asking the person who used the service.

The provider may find it useful to note that we found some of the policies were out of date and referred to obsolete government agencies and legislation. For example, the complaints policy and 'service user guide' referred to the 'National Standards Commission' and did not inform of a person's right to contact the Local Government Ombudsman.

Only one person lived at the home at the time of our visit. We had difficulty communicating with the person who used the service although we were able to understand some of their comments. We were able to observe their behaviour and interaction with staff.

The home was warm and welcoming. The focus in the home was very much about providing person centred care to suit the needs and preferences of the person who used the service. This was recorded in the care plan and there was evidence of the person being involved in the wider family unit with photographs of holidays and days out with family members.

We looked at the care plan, observed the care of the person who used the service and spoke to staff.

We saw that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people's safety and welfare. We observed that staff provided support and engaged in a positive way with the person who lived at the home.

We saw that the care record recorded information on the person's needs, abilities and likes and dislikes. In addition there was information on risk assessments being carried out which covered areas such as moving and handling, nutrition, mobility and behaviour.

We saw information on referrals being made to healthcare professionals. The person who used the service had suffered a stroke earlier in the year and there was information on involvement from hospital consultants, GPs and physiotherapists. One member of staff said that they had supported the person to regain their mobility by doing regular exercises with them. It was observed that the person had made a full recovery from their illness.

We spoke with the registered provider who demonstrated a good understanding about their responsibilities if abuse was suspected, and how they would respond to it. We saw that the home had safeguarding policies and complaints procedures in place to safeguard people from abuse.

We spoke to the registered manager about staffing levels in the home. The registered manager said that she was responsible for all of the day to day care provision for the person who used the service

The registered provider lived on the premises so was always available and accessible. The focus of the home was about enabling the person who used the service to achieve the best quality of life they could within a homely family environment.

We observed the provider providing care to the person who used the service. The provider demonstrated a caring, patient and enabling approach to providing care that met the needs of the person.

Our observations of the service showed that care staff spoke with and interacted with people who used the service in a patient and pleasant manner. Care staff supported people in a sensitive way using differing methods of communication to ensure that people understood what was going to happen.

The people who used the service appeared happy and comfortable with the staff and their family in their interactions with them.

Relatives of people we spoke with during our visit were very satisfied with the care and activities within the service. They told us the care was very good and the place was clean. They said 'I could not wish for them to be anywhere else,' and that the people who use the service 'Have never been happier.