The Care Quality Commission

Archived: St Michaels Residential Care Home

Dairy Lane, Houghton Le Spring, Tyne And Wear, DH4 5EH (0191) 584 3239

Provided and run by:
Mrs Mary Jane Tinkler

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

27 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We used different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service, as some had complex needs which meant they were unable to tell us. We observed positive interaction between them and the staff. We spoke with people during the visit individually in their bedrooms and in groups in the communal areas. All of the people we spoke with said they were happy with the service provided and the staff were "Really nice" and 'Always helpful'.

We saw the staff were recruited following their policies and procedures which made sure that they had the experience and skills to carry out the role they are employed to carry out. Patient records were detailed up to date and gave staff information on how they could meet their needs. They were person centred, this means written in a way that describes how a person would want their needs to be met and focused on them as individuals.

Staff were speaking to people in a kind and respectful way. We also observed that the people were clean and well groomed. A relative said they were confident their family member was looked after; they said "The girls are absolutely astonishing', and another said we are 'Always really happy with the care he gets, I know he is safe here".

We saw the manager made sure the quality of the service was maintained and action taken if necessary, for example asking people how they feel about the service using surveys and checking the records to make sure they were detailed and up tot date.

16 October 2012

During a routine inspection

The deputy manager was in charge on the day of the inspection. Some of the people using the service had complex needs which meant they could not tell us their views. We therefore used a number of different methods to help us understand their experiences.

People we spoke with said they were happy with the service provided. One person told us 'The staff are always nice, I don't have favourites as they are all good ' and 'They look after me really well'. We spoke with a small group of people together who said they were happy with the service and how much they appreciated the staff and the manager. They told us the food was 'Really good' and one suggested that 'You should stay and have your dinner'.

One visitor told us she that she thought the home 'Looked after their relative really well' and that she was 'Really pleased' with the care. She told us that he had recently been in hospital and that she was 'pleased to have him back in the home'.

A visiting Social Worker told us that they had no concerns about the way that people were being cared for. They said staff had been helpful and had given them the information they needed. They also told us that a placement they had been involved in had gone really well.

Staff were given relevant training to equipe them for their role and were being supported through appraisals and supervisions. They told us they were confident in their job and would go to senior staff and the manager for guidance and advice.

10 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We carried out a visit as part of this review on 18 January 2012. We spoke to a number of the people living in the home and visitors, as well as the manager and the staff who were on duty.

The people living in the service and the visitors who we met during the visit were very complimentary about the way that the home was managed and the way that people were supported. They were, without exception, complimentary about the manager, and the other staff.

A group of three people were spoken to together. One said 'the staff are lovely, kind'; the second responded 'yes, they are nice', the third person said 'its very nice here, and the manager's always around to help'.

A visiting relative told us that they were "very happy with the care' and that their relative had settled well since they came into the home. They told us that the resident had chosen the home themselves after visiting and spending time in the communal areas. Another person told us that their relative really enjoyed living in the home and that they 'were always pleased with the food.' They said that they could choose from the menu but if it was curry or chilli ,which they did not like, there was always another choice.'

One person living in St Michael's told us that they would 'recommend the service to anyone', as the carers were 'really good.' Another said that they thought the staff were "thoughtful" and that the staff were considerate to their relatives.