20 February 2015
During a routine inspection
We carried out this inspection on 20 and 21 February 2015 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.
The service is registered to provide nursing or personal care for 22 elderly people who may have dementia or a mental health condition. On the day of the inspection 15 people resided within the home.
We last inspected this service in December 2013 when the service met all the standards we inspected.
This was an unannounced inspection.
The service had a 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
All staff had undertaken safeguarding of vulnerable adults training or had updated their knowledge by taking refresher courses. There were policies and procedures for staff to follow safe practice. The service used the Blackburn with Darwen safeguarding adult procedures to follow a local initiative. The registered manager had acted appropriately in reporting and acting upon any safeguarding concerns.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) sets out what must be done to make sure the human rights of people who may lack mental capacity to make decisions are protected. The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) provides a legal framework to protect people who need to be deprived of their liberty to ensure they receive the care and treatment they need, where there is no less restrictive way of achieving this. Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). We found action had been taken where necessary to ensure people’s capacity to make their own decisions had been assessed. Where any restrictions were in place we found these were legally authorised under the Mental Health Act 1983 or with people’s consent.
Staff were recruited using current guidelines to help minimise the risk of abuse to people who used the service.
People (or where appropriate a family member) had signed their consent to agree to their care, treatment and for a photograph to be taken for identification and social purposes. If possible people who used the service or a family member were involved in care plan and multi-disciplinary meetings. These meetings were held for any professionals involved to provide specialised knowledge and care advice. This meant people who used the service were involved if they were able in their care and treatment.
The environment was well maintained and people were able to help choose the décor or furnishings to make the environment more homely to them. People could bring in their own furniture, photographs and knickknacks to personalise their rooms. One person told us staff had helped him buy and fit a television in their room.
Staff told us they received a recognised induction, completed enough training to feel confident in their roles and were supervised. Staff felt supported at this care home.
People’s needs were regularly assessed and updated. Staff were updated at the beginning of each shift at their handover sessions.
The administration of medication was safe, staff competencies were checked and the system audited for any errors by the registered manager and the local pharmacy.
People who used the service, staff and other agencies were asked for their views about how the service was performing. We saw that the registered manager had taken action to provide a better service from the views such as updating the décor and changing the menu’s to people’s tastes.
The registered manager audited systems at the home, including infection control, medicines and the environment. Gas and electrical equipment was maintained to help keep people safe.
Activities such as baking, special event days, external entertainers and remembrance therapy by using local photographs and literature helped keep people stimulated. Other activities were provided on a daily weekly and monthly basis.