Archived: Summerhill Residential Home

We looked at five care plans and spoke with five people who use the service. We also spoke with five people about their friend's or relative's care. We spoke with five members of staff and a visiting health professional; two of the staff were carers, one was the registered manager, one was the home manager and one was one of their chefs. We saw that people's care plans were clearly set out and people's needs met. Detailed guidance on how people liked to be supported with individual's preferences and choices were recorded.

We saw that people were treated with respect and were able to make choices about their care and treatment. All the people we spoke with felt they were treated very well, one person told us that it was 'like home from home, freedom completely to make choices'. Relatives and friends of people who use the service told us that that they were very pleased with the care and support provided. One person said the 'care is absolutely wonderful'; another person told us that they found 'the staff friendly and all the residents well cared for'.

Staff felt supported and received appropriate training and supervision to support them in their role. Staff were able to describe the care home's safeguarding procedure and their role in keeping people safe.

The views of people who use the service and their relatives and friends were surveyed and systems were in place to monitor the ongoing performance of the service.

During lunch we observed that people were given choices about food, drinks and where they wanted to sit. People were able to remain in the communal areas of the home and some people chose to remain in their bedroom. We spoke with one person who told us "I am a very private person. I can choose what I want to do." Positive and cheerful interactions were observed between care workers and people who lived in the home.

Staff were encouraging in their approach and were mindful of people's dignity when offering support. In the entrance hall there were lots of posters and information about activities taking place in the home. People we spoke with said that they could chose how they spent their time. One person said "They like you to join in but you are left on your own if you prefer that.

People told us they felt safe in the home. One person said "They treat you well. They keep you safe". We observed that staff responded promptly to call bells and requests for assistance. We spoke with one person who said "There are a lot of staff. I press the buzzer - within seconds they are here". Information about raising complaints was easily accessible. Staff we spoke to said they knew how to raise safeguarding concerns.