Archived: I Care Rest Home

On our previous visit in October 2013 we found minor shortfalls in some areas of care and safety the residents received. This was because the provider did not ensure people were protected from the risk of inadequate nutrition, by monitoring and recording residents intake of diet and hydration. Also residents could be put at risk because parts of the premises were unsafe. We found also the provider did not have effective quality monitoring systems to ensure they managed risks relating to the welfare and safety of people who lived at the home.

During the visit we looked at care, maintenance and nutrition records. We found the manager had addressed the concerns raised from the previous inspection. Although the manager was new in her post we saw evidence of how the minor concerns were being handled and actioned. One staff member we spoke with said, 'The new manager has been great and improved the way we operate.' A relative we spoke with said, 'It's a very good home and I believe they had problems before, but the staff and manager are marvellous."

Residents weight and nutrition intake were being monitored. We saw evidence of action taken when a person had lost weight over a short period of time. There were a range of audits and systems now in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided.

During the meal we noted one person did not touch their food. No one offered any assistance or sat with them to provide any encouragement. We did not see that an alternative food option was offered.

We noted in two of the rooms the windows opened wide and we could not see any restrictors in place. The manager was unable to confirm the frequency of window checks.

We looked at the staffing levels in the home. We were told by the manager that their staffing levels were always a minimum of two staff on duty. This was confirmed by the rotas we looked at.

Staff were supported with their personal development and our discussions confirmed they were aware of the needs of the people who lived at the home.

We found in the care plan records that details of two recent accidents had not been reported accurately. We found that the service did not have any environmental risk assessments in place. This meant that the potential risks posed to people and others were not being identified and managed.

We were able to speak with residents during the day of the inspection about their care and support. People we spoke with told us they could express their views and were involved in discussions about their care. They told us they felt listened to when discussing their care needs. One resident told us, 'Cannot fault the way the staff treat us, very polite and obliging.' Also, 'The staff always have time to talk to you if you want company.'

We spent time in areas of the home, including lounges and the dining areas. This helped us to observe the daily routines and gain an insight into how residents care and support was being managed. We observed staff treated people with respect and provided support or attention as people requested it. One staff member told us, 'I have been here a long time and it's like a family home.'

We contacted the Lancashire contracts monitoring team. They told us they currently had no concerns with the service being provided by the home.