Archived: Charlotte James Nursing Home

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.

At our last inspection on 21 April 2016, we found that improvements were needed in relation to the staffing levels; assessing people’s capacity to make certain decisions; and the effectiveness of the audits to monitor the quality of the service. At this inspection, the required improvements had been made regarding the staffing available and the systems in place to make effective changes in the home.

However, further improvements were required. When people were unable to make specific decisions about their care, the provider had not assessed their capacity and could not demonstrate how decisions were made in people’s best interests. The provider did not always ensure the staff had the specific training they needed to deal with certain circumstances.

People were safe and protected from harm and abuse. They were supported in a safe manner and potential risks were monitored and reviewed. People’s medicines were administered as prescribed and the provider had safe recruitment processes in place.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and good health. They were supported by staff who knew them well and were kind and caring in their manner. Staff had positive relationships with the people who they supported. People were supported in a dignified manner and their privacy and independence was promoted. Visitors were made to feel welcome and there were no restrictions as to when they could call.

People were involved in the assessment and planning of their care. They received support that was individual to them and took their views into account. There were opportunities for people to participate in activities they enjoyed. People knew how to raise any concerns and these were responded to.

People were positive about living at the home and felt it was well managed. There was an open culture within the service and staff enjoyed working there.

Charlotte James Nursing Home provides personal and nursing care for up to 28 older people

There were 20 people living at the home on the day of our inspection.

There was no registered manager in post at the time of our inspection; however the provider advised us that an application to register a manager was in progress. 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.

Where people lacked capacity to make decisions, capacity assessments had been completed but further improvements were needed to ensure these assessments were decision specific. When people were being unlawfully restricted this had been considered and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications were in the process of being completed to ensure people’s rights were protected. Staff gained people’s verbal consent before supporting them with any care tasks and promoted people to make decisions.

The staffing levels had been increased but further improvements were needed, as people sometimes had to wait for staff support. Improvements had been made to medicines management but staff were not consistently recording when medicines had been given. Audits had not been undertaken in all areas to ensure areas for improvement could be identified.

Care staff knew about people’s individual risks and plans to support people were in place, including individual plans to support people in the event of an emergency to ensure people could be evacuated in a safe way. The provider checked that the equipment was regularly serviced to ensure it was safe to use. People were provided with the right equipment to meet their needs.

People told us they felt safe at the home and staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from harm. Staff were suitably recruited which minimised risks to people’s safety. Staff were provided training to meet the needs of people and were supported by the management team.

People received food and drink that met their nutritional needs and were referred to healthcare professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing.

There were processes in place for people and their relatives to express their views and opinions about the service provided and to raise any concerns or complaints.