Archived: Ingersley Court Residential Care Home

The service was previously inspected in February 2014 when it was found to be meeting all the regulatory requirements which were inspected at that time.

Ingersley Court Residential Care Home is a purpose built care home for older people. It is located in the village of Bollington, near Macclesfield, within easy reach of the local community. The home has capacity to accommodate 34 people.

Ingersley Court Residential Care Home has 32 single rooms, including 19 with en-suite facilities. There is also one double bedroom. All rooms have television points and 13 have a telephone line. As well as the care home services, Ingersley Court Residential Care Home also has some attached accommodation for older people consisting of eight self-contained one bedroom flats over two floors.

The home has a number of communal spaces, including two dining spaces, lounges, a conservatory, games room and wheelchair accessible gardens and a patio area to the rear of the home with tables and chairs.

Thirty two people were being accommodated at the time of the inspection.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager at Ingersley Court Residential Care Home. 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.

The registered manager was not in day to day charge of the service when we inspected Ingersley Court Residential Care Home. An acting manager had been assigned to oversee the management of the home.

The acting manager was present during our inspection and engaged positively in the inspection process. She was observed to be friendly and approachable and operated an open door policy to people using the service, staff and visitors. During the inspection we found Ingersley Court Residential Care Home to have a warm and relaxed atmosphere and overall people living in the home appeared happy and content.

During this inspection, we identified two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to Safe Care and Treatment and Good Governance. You can see what action we told the registered provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

Feedback received from people using the service spoken with was generally complimentary about the standard of care provided. People living at Ingersley Court Residential Care Home told us the acting manager was approachable and supportive.

People's needs had been assessed before they went to stay at the home. However, the dependency assessment tool used to assess the level of people’s needs did not accurately reflect the people’s current needs.

The service lacked governance systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service. For example, effective systems to audit care plans and medicines were not robust.

Medicines were not being managed effectively. For example, we found one person’s controlled drugs had not been recorded correctly.

The registered provider had policies and systems in place to manage risks and safeguard people from abuse. Staff were aware of the whistle blowing policy and they told us they would use it if required. Staff told us they were able to speak with the manager if they had a concern.

We observed the lunchtime meals and saw staff supported people appropriately and in an unhurried way. People had a choice of meals, snacks and drinks, which they told us they enjoyed. There was flexibility in what people chose to eat and when.

Staff were supported through induction, regular on-going training, supervision and appraisal. A training plan was in place to support staff learning. Staff told us they were well supported in their roles and responsibilities. There was however, no training provided in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Corporate policies were in place relating to the MCA (Mental Capacity Act (2005) and DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards). We found staff were aware of the people using the service who were subject to a DoLS.

Staff recruitment systems were in place and information about staff had been obtained to make sure staff did not pose a risk to people using the service.

Staffing levels were structured to meet the needs of the people who used the service. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people's needs.

People and staff were encouraged to attend meetings with the acting manager at which they could discuss aspects of the service and care delivery. People were asked for feedback about the service to enable improvements to be made.

A process was in place for managing complaints and the home's complaints procedure was displayed so that people had access to this information. People and relatives told us they would raise any concerns with the manager.

Records showed that people also had access to GPs, chiropodists and other health care professionals (subject to individual need).

"The care staff know my needs well and are always on hand to assist me."

'Staff are always courteous and helpful.'

Before a person came to live at the home an assessment of their needs was undertaken and care plans were produced from the information obtained. We looked at the care records of five people who lived at the home and saw that they were individualised. We saw that where risks were identified, guidance was given to staff on how the risks should be managed. Staff knew people who lived at the home well and were able to describe their care requirements. This assured us that people's needs were assessed and that care plans contained guidance to staff on how they should support people who lived at the home.

We saw that people's nutritional needs were met and the home co-operated with other health and social care professionals. We saw that information was documented and shared and that staff followed advice given by other professionals such as district nurses, general practitioners and dieticians. This meant that support provided by the carers was enhanced by professional advice and guidance.

We checked the environment and found that the premises were clean, comfortable and well maintained. We saw that maintenance records were up to date and audits were undertaken to ensure that the environment remained safe.

We looked at staff files and found that appropriate checks were made to ensure that potential staff were of a good character. Once staff were employed at the home they undertook an induction period and carried out training specific to the requirements of the people they had to support. We found that records were stored securely and were easily accessible.

'The girls (staff) always ask me before doing anything to make sure I'm alright about it. I always get asked when I would like my bath; they don't tell me when I'm having one, that's the important thing.'

People told us that they were very happy living in Ingersley Court and with the care and support they received. Comments included: 'The staff are brilliant and everything else is champion', 'I'm very happy living here', 'I know about my care plan and the girls talk to me about it' and 'The food is not too bad, in fact it is very good and you do get a choice.' We also asked one person about their choice in daily routines such as times for going to bed and getting up. They told us, 'I get up and go to bed when I want, that is up to me, not the staff.'

From speaking with the person in charge and staff on duty it was demonstrated that they had a good knowledge and understanding of people's needs and how best to meet those needs. During our visit we saw staff speaking with people respectfully and politely. We saw staff supporting and assisting people at a pace that was unhurried and met their needs.