Archived: Hourigan House Residential Care Home

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?

We checked the training matrix and saw all staff members had undergone training related to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. We spoke with two people who used the service and they told us they were happy and felt safe at the care home.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and entered onto a central database. These were reviewed and analysed regularly by a quality assurance manager. This helped ensure lessons were learnt from incidents which minimised the risk of any similar incidents happening in the future.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) become important when a person is judged to lack the capacity to make an informed decision related to their care and treatment. The provider told us an applications for DoLS had been made during June 2014. We saw all the necessary procedures had been followed and the required paperwork had been completed and authorised appropriately.

Is the service effective?

From the care plans we looked at, we saw people had undergone a pre-admission assessment. Care plans and consent forms had been signed by the person who used the service. This showed they had been involved in the creation of their care plans.

People`s needs were taken into account with signage and the layout of the service. This enabled people to move around freely and safely. The care home had been sensitively adapted to meet the needs of people with limited mobility.

Is the service caring?

We spent time in communal areas and saw staff who provided care and support in a patient manner. Staff members were knowledgeable about the care needs of the people they supported.

People`s choices and preferences had been recorded and their care and support was provided in accordance with their stated wishes. We saw evidence of regular meetings and surveys for people who used the service. We saw any shortfalls had been addressed.

Is the service responsive?

The provider helped ensure people were engaged in social activities around the local community. We were told of several outings that had been held which included a barge trip.

We saw evidence of requests that had been given to the manager from the people who used the service. People`s suggestions had been considered and implemented by the manager which showed people had been listened to.

Is the service well led?

We saw that the provider worked well with other agencies. This helped ensure people who used the service received appropriate care when they needed it.

The care home had procedures in place that monitored the quality of care and support provided to people who used the service. Regular meetings were held for senior staff, care assistants and domestic staff. All suggestions were recorded and any shortfalls were addressed. This helped ensure the quality of service continued to improve.

We inspected the home on 10th September. At this inspection we found that the service was not meeting the standards required relating to the safety and suitability of premises by storing combustible or flammable materials in the 'electrical intake room'. We found that this could have an impact on the safety for people living at and working in Hourigan House.

When we visited on 15th October 2013 we found that the 'electrical intake room' was empty and kept secure. The provider was now meeting this standard. The staff we spoke with told us that they were aware of changes that had been made and there were now "more checks made on a regular basis to ensure the room remained empty'.

"Very good"; "Nice staff"; 'I feel safe and secure' and 'I like making my own decisions'.

We spoke with relatives who provided positive comments on the service provided

who stated:

"Lovely staff" and 'Very good'.

Activities were provided on a daily basis together with monthly activities and the home benefits from an activities coordinator who works 25 hours a week.

The home was clean and homely, peoples rooms where individual with various personal possessions, communal areas are well maintained and the home is currently being redecorated.

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Prior to our visit we contacted the community commissioning team at Wigan council who stated that the home has received quality visits and no issues have been identified.

Care was provided in single rooms, some of which were en-suite. People who used the service were able to have their own furniture and possessions. The whole environment was clean and organised. There were communal sitting rooms and quite areas to sit, on each floor, which were bright and pleasantly decorated.

We spoke with a visitor during the inspection who told us "I have been very happy with the care my X has received since they have been here", "There was one incident at the beginning but it was handled well and very quickly", "I have no complaints at all about the staff here".

Staff had received safeguarding training on induction and had either attended updates or dates were arranged. Competency assessments were also undertaken following training to ensure the understanding of safeguarding.

Hourigan House had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. An programme of planned audits was in place. These included infection control, medication administration, environmental and room audits and care plans.