Archived: The Croft

Updated 13 January 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This unannounced inspection took place on 18 November 2015. The inspection team consisted of a lead adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service and information from the local commissioners of the service.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, one care staff member and people who used the service. We looked at all of the records relating to the requirements and actions we had asked the provider to take following the last inspection in September 2014. We observed how staff supported people who used the service and looked at the care records for all the people living at The Croft.

We looked at the staff files for all staff employed. These included details of recruitment, induction, training and personal development. We also looked at records of maintenance and repair, the fire safety records, food safety records and quality monitoring documents.

Updated 13 January 2016

This comprehensive inspection took place on 18 November 2015 and was unannounced. We last inspected The Croft on 30 September 2014. At that inspection we found that the provider was not compliant with two of the essential standards of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The provider submitted an action plan telling us how they would become compliant and by when. At this inspection we found that the actions had been completed and all of the fundamental standards of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met.

The Croft is a very small residential care home that provides care and accommodation for up to three older people. The home is situated in the centre of the town of Appleby. The Croft is a large detached period property set in well maintained gardens with some seating areas for people to enjoy the gardens and there is ample parking space. The accommodation is over two levels with a stair lift accessing the second floor.

There was a registered manager who is also the provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the (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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The recruitment procedures demonstrated that the provider operated an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that fit and proper persons had been employed.

Medicines were being administered and recorded appropriately and were being kept safely.

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people’s needs and promote people’s safety.

Where safeguarding concerns or incidents had occurred these had been reported by the registered manager to the appropriate authorities and we could see records of the actions taken by the home to protect people.

Staff had completed initial training that enabled them to deliver care and support safely. However some staff required elements of training to be updated to refresh their skills and knowledge.

People were supported to maintain good health and appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals were made.

There was a clear management structure in place and staff were very happy with the level of support they received from the registered manager.

Informal audits and quality monitoring systems were used to demonstrate the safety and quality of the home.

We recommended that all staff including the registered manager refreshed and updated their skills and knowledge of some specific topics.