Archived: Sandmartins

Sandmartins is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 14 people whose needs are associated with old age. At the time of this inspection there were 11 people accommodated.

A registered manager was in post when we visited. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 registered manager was present during our visit.

The registered manager and staff understood their role in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and how the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) should be put into practice. These safeguards protect the rights of people by ensuring, if there are any restrictions to their freedom and liberty, these have been authorised by the local authority as being required to protect the person from harm. Currently, no one lacked capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Staff confirmed they had been trained in how to identify and report any incidents of abuse they may witness.

Any potential risks to individual people had been identified and appropriately managed.

People’s medicines had been administered and managed safely.

There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to meet people’s needs.

Staff told us they understood their roles and responsibilities and felt well supported by the registered manager. They had received adequate training, including induction training, to enable them to meet people’s needs.

Staff supported people to eat and drink if required. They ensured people at potential risk received adequate nutrition and hydration.

People were provided with support to access health care services in order to meet their needs.

Positive, caring relationships had been developed with staff to ensure people received the support they needed. They were encouraged to express their views and to be actively involved in making decisions about the support they received to maintain the lifestyle they have chosen.

The culture of the service was open, transparent and supportive. People and their relatives were encouraged to express their views and make suggestions so they may be used by the provider to make improvements.

Sandmartins can accommodate up to 14 people who have needs associated with old age. Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what six people using the service, a visitor, two care staff, the chef, the registered manager and deputy manager told us, what we observed and the documents and records we looked at.

If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report.

In this report the registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a registered manager on our register at the time.

This is a summary of what we found:

Is the service safe?

People were treated with respect by the staff, their dignity was upheld and their independence was promoted. One person told us 'I can do as much for myself as I want to.'

People told us they felt safe, and were supported by staff in making their own decisions, which was confirmed by the four care plans seen and through observation.

CQC monitors the operation of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which applies to care homes. No applications had been submitted and we found that no one was subject to restrictions on their liberty. The registered manager and staff had attended training in safeguarding people but had not attended training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and DoLS, although they demonstrated some awareness of the principles of the Act. The training programme provided by the registered person included both areas, and the registered manager confirmed training would be provided for all staff.

Medicines were managed safely and administered by competent staff.

Is the service effective?

People had their needs assessed prior to living at the home. Care plans were regularly reviewed to ensure they remained effective, and were kept up to date to reflect the changing needs of people.

One person told us about how the registered manager and staff had supported them through a difficult time. They said 'They are all very good.'

Staff had received training so that they could meet the needs of the people living at Sandmartins.

Is the service caring?

People told us they were well cared for and their needs were met. From speaking with staff and observing how they supported people it was clear that they knew people well and understood their needs.

People were cared for by staff who were caring and attentive. People told us they were able to do what they wanted to do when they wanted. We saw that care staff supported people in way that was unhurried. One person told us 'It's all good here. I couldn't fault it.'

People were safe and their care and welfare needs were met because there were effective systems in place to ensure staff were competent to do their jobs.

Is the service responsive?

People told us the support provided was flexible according to their wishes at the time. We saw how staff checked with people how they would like support to be given, and how they were sensitive to people's changing needs.

Four people told us about a recent residents' meeting. All felt they were listened to, and changes were made to the menu for the following week. One person had suggested improvements to the garden and told us how the registered manager was taking this forward.

Is the service well-led?

Staff had a good understanding of the values that underpinned the care provided at the home. There were quality assurance processes in place including audits and surveys.

Two people told us about how the registered manager dealt with matters promptly, giving an example where she settled a dispute between people living at the home in a diplomatic way to the satisfaction of both parties.

People were cared for by staff who were trained and well supported. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and the two care staff on duty, all of whom said they were well supported by their managers.

People spoken with told us that their privacy and dignity were respected. Some comments made to us were :

"It is very good indeed"

"Staff are excellent , but very busy"

"Staff come quickly when called"

"I couldn't expect better"

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. care plans were current and needs were discussed with people.

People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard. People spoken with told us the staff were very busy but that all their care needs were met.

There was an effective complaints system available. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately