Archived: Cornerways Residential Home

Cornerways is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for a maximum of three adults with physical and communication difficulties. Their health care needs are met through the community health care services. At the time of our inspection there were three people living at Cornerways.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People were safe and staff demonstrated a good understanding of what constituted abuse and how to report if concerns were raised. Measures to manage risk were as least restrictive as possible to protect people’s freedom. People’s rights were protected because the service followed the appropriate legal processes. Medicines were safely managed on people’s behalf. However, where people had received their medicines, at times staff had not signed the medicines record to demonstrate administration. The registered manager recognised that medicines audits needed to be improved and agreed to improve the system.

Care files were personalised to reflect people’s personal preferences. Their views and suggestions were taken into account to improve the service. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet, which they enjoyed. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people’s care to ensure they received the care and treatment which was right for them.

Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. Staff were motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and compassionate. People engaged in a wide variety of activities and spent time in the local community going to specific places of interest.

There were effective staff recruitment and selection processes in place. Staffing arrangements were flexible in order to meet people’s individual needs. Staff received a range of training and regular support to keep their skills up to date in order to support people appropriately.

Staff spoke positively about communication and how the registered manager worked well with them and encouraged their professional development.

Methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received and make continuous improvements.

We were told that people were able to direct their care and consent was sought for all care, any treatment and each day to day event and activity. We saw this in action as care workers did not enter the person's room unless invited to so and they did not provide personal care unless invited to do so.

We were told that people had their health care needs fully met and that they were supported as much as they wished in this. We saw that care planning was according to the person's wishes and that they changed their plan as they felt appropriate. We were told that professionals external to the home monitored people's health. People at Cornerways had a very varied life; the registered manager researched, arranged and supported people in this. Examples were a visit to an outdoor activities centre and to lecture public bodies about communication difficulties.

All equipment needed to promote independence and safety were provided and maintained in a safe way. Medicines were handled in people's best interest on their behalf.

People views and requests influenced their care and living situation at Cornerways. For example, one person wanted a particular care worker to assist them to eat and so this was arranged.