Archived: The Willows Residential Care Home

This was an announced inspection visit carried out on 09 December 2015. The reason the inspection visit was announced was to ensure people were available on the day of our visit. Therefore we gave the service 24 hours’ notice.

This is a care home registered for 6 people who have a learning disability. The home is situated close to Cleveleys town centre. There are two floors of the home available for people and it comprises of four single and one double room. En- suite facilities are provided and in addition, bathrooms are available on both floors. At the time of the inspection visit five people lived at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

At the last inspection in April 2014 the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations that were inspected at that time.

During this inspection people were kept safe and free from harm. There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service. Staff had been safely recruited to ensure people would be supported by suitable personnel.

We observed people’s medicines were dispensed in a safe manner and they received their medicines on time. Staff had received related training to ensure medicines were administered correctly by knowledgeable staff. The registered manager and local pharmacy had carried out checks to ensure processes were completed safely.

People were supported to eat their meals where they chose and were offered a variety of meal options. One person who lived at the home said, “I love the food especially curry.” Risk assessments and other documentation, such as weight charts, were in place to protect individuals from the risk of malnutrition.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager discussed the applications which had been authorised and the restrictions in place to make sure people were safe. We saw staff were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

Care records for people who lived at the home were personalised to each person’s needs and requirements. Staff regularly completed assessments of people’s needs. These were reviewed and updated to ensure care planning remained responsive to the individual’s ongoing requirements.

People were encouraged to follow their ambitions and individual interests within the community. They included voluntary work, involvement in local adult youth clubs and social preferences.

People who lived at the home were encouraged and supported to maintain relationships with their friends and family members.

The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included annual satisfaction surveys and regular auditing of the service to monitor the quality of care being provided.

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, staff supporting them and from looking at records.

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

Is the service safe?

The registered manager sets the staff rotas, they take people's care needs into account when making decisions about the numbers, qualifications, skills and experience required. This helped to ensure people's needs were always met. Staff we spoke with said they felt the numbers of staff on duty were sufficient so they could spend time with people as a group and on an individual basis. One staff member said, 'We have plenty of time to support people in what they like to do, even on a one to one basis.'

The home had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Relevant staff had been trained to understand when an application should be made and in how to submit one. This means that people will be safeguarded as required.

The environment was safe, clean and hygienic. Equipment was maintained and serviced regularly therefore not putting people at unnecessary risk. Records we looked at confirmed this.

Is the service effective?

People's health and care needs were assessed with them, and they were involved in developing their plans of care where possible. Relatives views were also sought to ensure people receive the right care to meet their needs. Specialist dietary, mobility and equipment needs had been identified in care plans where required. One staff member said, 'It is important to involve people as much as possible as to their choices and how they wish to be supported'.

The manager and staff member we spoke with had an awareness of people's care needs. We discussed with staff the individual needs of people. Comments included, 'We are a small home with long term staff and residents so it helps relationships grow and understand each other'.

Is the service caring?

We spent part of the day observing staff interaction with residents. People were supported by kind and attentive staff. We saw staff and the manager showed patience and gave encouragement when supporting people. One person who lived at the home said, 'They are all very kind to me.'

People's preferences, interests, wishes and support needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's choices.

Is the service well-led?

We had responses from external agencies including the fire service and social services .They told us they had a good working relationship with the manager and home to make sure people received their care and support they required.

There were a range of audits and systems in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided.

During the inspection we looked at care, medication and staff training records. We also talked to residents and relatives about the home. They also told us the staff were helpful, polite and supportive. One relative said, 'This is the best place for our daughter, the staff and manager are wonderful.'

Staff members we spoke with had an awareness of residents care needs. We discussed with staff individual needs of residents. Comments included, 'We all know the residents so well and are able to pick up if there are any health issues.'

We spoke individually with residents living at The Willows. They told us they were happy living at the home and that they liked the staff team and felt cared for.

Staff told us they felt supported, had regular meetings with their manager, and their training was kept up to date.

Prior to our visit we contacted Lancashire contracts monitoring team. They told us they currently had no concerns with the service being provided by the home.

Staff encouraged people to join in activities indoors and in the local community. One person told us about a 'zumba' (dance class) planned for residents to attend. One resident when asked about the activity said, 'We are going now it will be fun.'

Responses we received were positive from people living at The Willows, comments included, "I love it.' Also, "The staff are great.'

Staff we spoke with told us they have worked at the home for a number of years and they all get along well. They told us there was a thorough recruitment procedure before they started working. Comments included, 'We are one family I love it here.' Also from a staff member, 'All my checks for employment had to be done before I started here.'

We contacted the Lancashire contracts monitoring team. They told us they currently had no concerns with the service being provided by the home.