Archived: Corner View Residential Care Home

Is the service safe?

People we spoke with told us that they felt safe and that they liked the staff. There were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the people who used the service. Overall, within the service, medicines were administered safely but we observed that one member of staff had not administered medicines in a safe way. Assessments of any potential risks to people had been carried out and measures put in place to reduce the risks. This meant that people were protected from the risk of harm.We saw that there were sufficient skilled and trained staff on duty to meet the needs of people who used the service. We saw that care records also included information about how each person would be supported to evacuate the building if there was an emergency.

People were also protected from the risk of abuse. The two staff who spoke with us told us that they had received training in how to protect people from abuse and how to keep them safe.They were clear about their responsibilities to recognise and report any concerns about the safety of people who used the service.

The provider was taking appropriate action to ensure that practices to protect a person from the risk of harm were lawful and in line with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The Mental Capacity Act is a law which requires an assessment to be made to determine whether a person can make a specific decision at the time it needs to be made. It also requires that any decision made on someone's behalf is recorded, including the reasons why it has been made, how the person's wishes and preferences have affected the decision and how they were involved in the decision making process.

Is the service effective?

People we spoke with told us, and our observations confirmed that people were happy living at the home. Some staff had worked in the service for a long time and other staff had joined more recently. The staff who we spoke with told us that they enjoyed their job. One person said, 'It's very homely and very friendly. The staff are very helpful." We found that staff knew people's needs well from our observations and conversations with staff and the manager. Support plans in people's care files we saw gave staff detailed guidance about how each person preferred to be supported.

Is the service caring?

We saw that the staff interacted in a positive and friendly manner with people who used the service and that staff treated people with kindness and respect. One of the staff we spoke with said, 'We have a nice relationship with the people we support". One person who used the service said, "The staff are friendly. They look after us well." We observed that people's individual requests were listened to and that staff spoke to people and responded to them in a respectful way.

Is the service responsive?

People's care and support needs were regularly re-assessed by the manager and the staff at the service. Support plans included people's preferences and their likes and dislikes to ensure that care and support were provided in a way they wanted them to be. People participated in a range of activities of their choice and suited to their needs, both at home and in the local community. People were supported to maintain contact with friends and relatives.

Is the service well led?

There was effective leadership in place, which ensured that people's needs were met, they were kept safe and the service provide was of a good quality. One member of staff said, 'The manager is very approachable, very understanding and very effective.' The provider had put a range of quality assurance systems in place to ensure that all aspects of the service were monitored and improvements made where necessary.

We found that the provider was compliant with the regulations in all the areas we assessed. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

The people living at Corner View have lived together for many years and chose to move to Corner View as a group. We spoke to three people during our visit; all told us how much they liked living at the home.

People's privacy and dignity were respected and they were routinely offered choices in all aspects of their lives. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the home and staff interacted with people in a respectful manner.

People were protected from the risk of malnutrition and dehydration. People told us they enjoyed the meals provided and were involved in shopping for food and choosing what meals were served. People were supported to eat independently and people's weights were monitored regularly.

A flexible approach was taken to staffing. This ensured that people's needs were met and also allowed people to go out and enjoy community activities.

There were suitable systems in place to handle complaints. People told us they would speak to staff if they had any concerns but had not felt the need to. People were offered opportunities to discuss any worries individually with key workers or at monthly house meetings

Two people we spoke with told us they liked living at the home. There were systems in place for people to contribute their views about the service through monthly meetings and annual surveys.

People had individual lifestyles and regularly had opportunities to go out either individually or as a group. The service engaged with the local community through coffee mornings held at the home.