The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Silver Threads Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

1 Lyndale Terrace, Instow, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4HS (01271) 860329

Provided and run by:
Silver Threads Care Home

All Inspections

13 and 23 July 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 13 and 23 July 2015 and was unannounced.

At our last inspection on 4 November 2013 we found the service was meeting all the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Silver Threads provides care and accommodation for up to 14 older people who require personal care. The home does not provide nursing care. On our visits there were 13 people living in the home.

The service had a registered manager who was also the registered provider. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was supported by a deputy manager.

People living at the home felt very safe, well cared for and comfortable. They described the service as having a warm, friendly and homely atmosphere. They were complimentary of the staff group.

Risks to people were assessed and reviewed. Medicines were managed safely. People were treated with dignity and respect; staff were caring and compassionate towards them. People were treated as individuals and care was planned and delivered in a person centred way. Staff knew people very well, their preferred routines and how they liked to be cared for. Relatives were welcomed and felt part of their family member’s care; open and caring relationships had developed with the management and staff.

People made choices about their daily lives and their care and were supported by sufficient numbers of staff to remain independent. They undertook hobbies or interests if they wished.

The service was well led and promoted an open and inclusive culture. Staff felt valued, supported and part of a team. People, relatives and staff had confidence in the management team. The home had a range of quality monitoring systems in place which helped drive improvement at the service.

People’s views were sought and improvements made in response to any concerns or issues raised.

4 November 2013

During a routine inspection

There were 14 people living at the home on the day of our visit. It was a very busy day for the people who lived in the home with several visitors at one time. This included a relative, two community nurses, a chiropodist, an occupational therapist, a plumber, an electrician, a hairdresser and a delivery of new mattresses.

We saw all of the people who lived at the home. We had conversations with eight people who told us what it was like to live at 'Silver Threads'. We spoke with one relative, a health care professional, a chiropodist, the hairdresser, the cook, two care staff, the assistant manager and the manager.

Despite the business of the home, there was a very warm, welcoming and homely atmosphere at the home. We saw that staff treated people well and that there was jovial banter between them. People told us "the staff are lovely", "they (the staff) are very good - all of them" and "it's absolutely marvellous here".

Each person had a care file which contained all the information necessary. Any specialist advice was sought from the relevant care professionals.

People enjoyed their meals. Comments included ""like the food" and "it's (the food) very nice and I am a connoisseur of food".

Staff understood the signs of abuse and how to report any concerns. People felt safe and comments included "feel safe here" and "pleased to have got into such a nice place".

People lived in a home that was safe and suitable to their needs, choices and abilities.

During a check to make sure that the improvements required had been made

At our previous inspection on 5 March 2013 we found that the registered manager and staff were not familiar with the local authority's safeguarding procedures and we could not be confident they would identify or report potential abuse. We found that the registered manager took prompt action to provide staff with the guidance needed.

5 March 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with seven of the 13 people who were living at the home, also observing some of the support people received as well as how they spent their day. We read care records and information relating to the management of the home, as well as speaking with two visitors, four staff and the registered manager.

We found that people's views and experiences were taken into account in the way the service was delivered in relation to their care. One person commented "Oh yes, you feel free if you want to say anything."

Individuals' privacy, dignity and independence were respected. They experienced care and support that met their needs and protected their rights. For example, one person said "When I want my paracetamol, I just ask for it," confirming that staff brought it promptly. However, although people typically described the staff as "good people" and felt safe at the home, they were not fully protected from the risk of abuse. This was because the provider had not taken reasonable steps that would help with the identification of possible abuse or prevention of abuse.

People were supported by qualified and skilled staff, who were supported to deliver care safely and to an appropriate standard through training and development.

The provider had effective systems to monitor the quality of service that people received. There were also effective systems to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service and others.