Archived: Cooperscroft Residential and Nursing Home

We visited the home on 10 September 2014 to follow up this information.

We spoke with staff who told us that there were enough members of care staff to support people's needs but not always enough staff to spend quality 'one to one' time with people. The manager showed us a review that had been carried out which had led to an increase in staffing and on going recruitment.

People were given choice about when they got up in the morning. It had been suggested to us that people were woken by night staff to assist with day staff getting people up and dressed. However we observed that people were given a choice of when they liked to get ready for the day and staff respected this. Where people were awake and dressed upon our arrival this was because they had woken voluntarily. One staff member told us, "People get up at different times, some get up early and some later, we let them choose when they want to get up."

Where people received medicines covertly without their knowledge, for example by providing tablets was crushed into their food, staff had not always followed the appropriate processes to ensure this was carried out safely and in the person's best interests. Staff had not sought the professional advice or documented the actions accurately in people's care records as required.

Where one person displayed levels of anxiety and distress staff occasionally resorted to the use of medication as a method of calming this person's mood. We confirmed this through our discussion with one member of the nursing team. Staff had not always considered alternative methods prior to administering their medication.

We reviewed documents to check that people had been asked for their consent to care and treatment that was provided to them. We looked at peoples care plans and risk assessments, and found that these contained relevant and up to date information relative to people's assessed needs and instructions for staff about how they should support people.

We reviewed the arrangements for safeguarding of vulnerable adults, looked at training records, and spoke to staff. We found that the provider had suitable arrangements in place to protect people from the risk of abuse.

We checked the medication policy and process to make sure people were given their medication when they required it. We found that there was a robust medication procedure in place and there were appropriate arrangements for the safe collection, storage and disposal of medication.

The provider sent us a copy of the 'notification process' and we were able to confirm that the appropriate steps had been followed. This meant that the provider was informing us appropriately and therefore meeting this standard.

People who lived at Cooperscroft said it was a lovely place and 'what's not to like'. 'You get everything taken care of and we are well looked after. It's such a nice place the staff are lovely and they treat everyone as individuals. They know how to communicate with the people who live here.'

We observed staff engaging with people and noted people had a sense of purpose. For example a group of people had visited the home for a music and singing session and everyone was involved, there was a good atmosphere and people had pride in their faces knowing they were able to contribute. Those that were not able to engage in this had other activities provided for them, and these were planned around people's individual capabilities.

We spoke with twelve people using the service and five visitors, including relatives and friends of people using the service.

One person said 'I know the staff are looking after me. There is nothing I go without. I like the company of others and I have no concerns at present'. Another said that ' The staff are caring, but not many of them these days'. 'Food is good and staff are kind and helpful'.

The relatives and visitors we spoke with said that they did not have any concerns about the care and support people received. One person told us, "It's a nice newly built home, the food is good and the staff are friendly'.

During this inspection we found that people's care and treatment were not always delivered in a way that promoted their health and wellbeing. There had been insufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people's needs and the provider had not notified the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of an incident in a timely manner.