07/08/2014
During a routine inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which looks at the overall quality of the service.
There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.
Heritage Care Centre is a care home for up to 72 people requiring nursing or personal care. It is split over three floors and has separate units for people with dementia. The ground floor has two elderly units, Cavell and Dalton. The first floor has two dementia units, Franciscan and Rectory. Each unit has a unit manager overseeing the care needs for people using the service. The third floor has a sensory room, hairdressing room, the laundry and staff room. There is an outdoor space for people to enjoy. All bedrooms are single occupancy with ensuite facilities. At the time of our inspection there were 68 people living at the home.
The home was welcoming, in an excellent state of repair and had a clean, airy smell. People using the service were happy and settled. They told us they felt safe, enjoyed living at the home and were treated well by staff. They complimented the food and told us that staff respected their wishes, including any religious or cultural needs. People were able to leave the home if they wanted, unless staff felt it was unsafe to do so. The provider followed appropriate guidance on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), carried out risk assessments and involved people or their next of kin when making decisions which restricted people's movements.
Care records were updated by staff on a regular basis. The wishes of people using the service and their next of kin were recorded and taken into consideration when delivering care. Healthcare professionals such as GPs and community nurses were involved in people’s care and provided guidance for staff at the home.
Staff were familiar with the needs of people using the service. We observed staff interacting with people in a friendly, relaxed manner. Staff understood what was meant by treating people with dignity and respect. A range of group and individual activities were available for people. We observed some of these taking place and saw that people were engaged and enjoyed them.
The home was managed well and staff told us they felt valued. Training that was relevant to the work that staff were doing was provided and regular staff supervision took place.
The provider followed best practice guidance when delivering care. The management team strove for excellence by following best practice and worked in partnership with other organisations to make sure they were providing a high quality service for people.