• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Elizabeth House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

147-155 Walshaw Road, Bury, Lancashire, BL8 1NH (0161) 762 9394

Provided and run by:
Canbra Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

29 February 2016

During a routine inspection

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 29 February 2016. We had previously inspected this service in November 2014 when we found it was meeting the regulations.

At this inspection we found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because recruitment procedures were not sufficiently robust. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

Elizabeth House is registered to provide accommodation for up to 18 older people who require support with personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people living in the home.

Systems for recruitment of staff were not always safe. In three staff files we found full employment history’s had not been recorded. Where gaps in staff previous employment history had been identified there was not a written explanation of the reason, as required by law. This meant people were at risk of being cared for by unsuitable staff.

Staff felt supported and had received the induction, training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively.

There was a registered manager in place at Elizabeth House. 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.

People told us they felt safe at Elizabeth House. Policies and procedures were in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff had received training in safeguarding adults. Staff were able to tell us how to identify and respond to allegations of abuse. They were also aware of the responsibility to ‘whistle blow’ on colleagues who they thought might be delivering poor practice to people.

People were receiving their medicines as prescribed. We saw there were safe systems in place for managing medicines.

During our inspection we observed that there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and requests for support were answered promptly. We found that staff received the induction; training and support they needed to ensure they had the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.

People’s care records contained sufficiently detailed information to guide staff on that they needed to do to support people. Risks to people’s health and well-being had been identified and plans were in place to reduce or eliminate the risk.

We found the communal areas, toilets and bedrooms were clean and free from offensive odours. Since our last inspection the home had been re-decorated, the kitchen work surfaces had been replaced. New non slip flooring had been fitted in the communal areas and the kitchen. The bedrooms we looked at were spacious and contained lots of personal belongings and photographs. The home was clean and equipment was serviced and maintained appropriately. Procedures were in place for preventing the spread of infection. Systems were in place to deal with emergency’s that could affect the provision of care.

People’s rights and choices were respected. We found the provider was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). These provider legal safeguards for people who may be unable to make their own decisions.

Systems were in place to ensure people’s nutritional needs were met. People told us they enjoyed the food. The cook and staff had good knowledge of people’s likes and dislikes.

Peoples health needs were assessed and monitored. They had access to a range of health care professionals and any advice was documented and acted upon.

The staff and managers knew people well. They spoke fondly about people who used the service.

People who used the service and their relatives spoke positively about the care and support staff provided. They told us it was homely and people described it as, “Like a family.”

All the people we spoke with were positive about the registered manager, deputy manager and how the service was run. Staff told us they felt supported and enjoyed working for the service.

People told us they enjoyed the activities that were on offer in the home. We saw that events to mark special occasions were organised within the home and that relatives and friends were made to feel welcome.

We found there was a good system of quality assurance. There were a number of weekly and monthly checks and audits. People told us they could raise any issues with the registered manager and deputy manager. The service had a system in place for dealing with complaints and recording any actions taken.

The registered manager was starting to use a new system for gathering people’s views on the service. This showed a commitment to listening to people and involving people in how the service was run and improved.

18 November 2014

During a routine inspection

Elizabeth House is registered for up to 18 older people some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 18 people living in the home on the day of our inspection.

We last inspected the service on 29 August 2013 when we found it was meeting the regulations we reviewed.

During our inspection we spoke with seven people who lived in the home, one senior care staff member, one care staff member, the deputy manager and the registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We also spoke with two relatives by telephone to ask their opinion of the service.

We found that people living in Elizabeth House were not always safe. Medicines were not always given to people safely or stored safely. Staff responsible for administering medicines had received training and were assessed to ensure their practice was safe. We observed good interactions between staff and people who used the service. People told us they felt safe and really well looked after. We noted lunch time was a very social occasion for people who used the service and that staff provided appropriate support to people to eat their meals.

Staff received a range of training and told us they felt supported to deliver effective care.

People’s needs were assessed and regularly reviewed so that staff could deliver personalised care and support. Staff ensured they worked closely with the wider multi-professional care team to ensure people’s needs were met.

Systems were in place to record and review complaints. People were encouraged to express their views about the service they received through informal discussions with the registered manager and staff members.

People who used the service were supported to take part in individual and group activities both in the home and in the community. These activities were varied and provided evidence that the service had taken into consideration the differing needs of people who lived there.

Staff told us they enjoyed working at Elizabeth House and that they were well supported by the Registered Manager. People who used the service told us that the staff were kind and approachable and relatives told us that staff and management always listened to them.

The Registered Manager had systems in place to regularly monitor and assess the quality of care provided in Elizabeth House. Some arrangements were in place to seek and act upon the views and opinions of people who used the service.

29 August 2013

During a routine inspection

During the inspection, we spoke with three people who use the service. They told us they were happy with the care they received and that they were looked after well. They told us they regularly took part in activities and were given a good choice of food and drink.

We found that people were asked for consent and the provider acted in accordance with peoples' wishes. People who use the service received care in a way that met their needs and preferences.

The people we spoke with told us they felt the home was clean and safe. They told us the staff were friendly and helpful. They also told us they had no concerns about the services they received and were confident they could speak to the staff if they had any concerns.

We found the environment in the home to be clean, safe and well maintained. People were cared for by staff that had been through the appropriate recruitment checks. There was an effective complaints system available, in case anyone wished to raise a complaint.

3 January 2013

During a routine inspection

During the visit, we spoke with three people who use the service. They told us the staff kept them involved in the review of their care and always asked for permission before they carried out any care activities.

The people we spoke with told us they were happy with the care they received. They told us the staff assisted them when needed and did what was asked of them. They also told us they liked the home and felt it was clean and well maintained.

The people we spoke with told us that the staff were helpful and friendly and that they had no issues or concerns relating to the staff.

8 November 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

People were complimentary about the staff and the care provided. Some of the comments were:

'It's a really good place; they know what they are doing'.

'It is one of the best care homes'.

'They are all very kind and respectful'.

14 July 2011

During a routine inspection

People were complimentary about the staff and also about the food. Some of the comments were:

'They are very good and very helpful'.

'They are all very nice'.

'I am happy enough here, they look after me'.

'It's not quite like home, but it is fine'.

Visiting relatives also told us that they thought the staff were 'polite, kind and respectful'.