This inspection took place on 21 and 22 April 2016 and was unannounced. The last inspection was carried out in August 2013, at that inspection the service was found to be meeting the Regulations assessed.Elm View Care Home is registered to provide accommodation with nursing and personal care for up to 46 people. On the days of our inspection there were 38 people living in the home. The service is located in Clevedon.
There was a manager in post at the time of our inspection who had applied to be registered with the CQC. 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.
People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff were confident about how to protect people from harm and what they would do if they had any safeguarding concerns.
There were good systems in place to make sure that people were supported to take medicines safely and as prescribed.
Risks to people had been assessed and plans put in place to keep risks to a minimum.
There were enough staff on duty to make sure people's needs were met. Recruitment procedures made sure staff had the required skills and were of suitable character and background. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and that there was good teamwork.
Staff were supported through training and team meetings to help them carry out their roles effectively. Staff were led by an open and accessible management team.
The manager and staff were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS are put in place to protect people where their freedom of movement is restricted. The registered manager had taken appropriate action for those people whom restricted movement was a concern. Where people lacked capacity to make their own decisions, the MCA had been followed appropriately.
People told us that staff were caring and that their privacy and dignity were respected. Care plans were person centred and showed that individual preferences were taken into account. Care plans gave clear directions to staff about the support people required to have their needs met.
People were supported to maintain their health and had access to health services if needed.
People's needs were regularly reviewed and, where necessary, appropriate changes were made to the support people received. People had opportunities to make comments about the service and how it could be improved.
There were effective management arrangements in place. The manager had a good oversight of the service and was aware of areas of practice that needed to be improved. There were systems in place to look at the quality of the service provided and action was taken where shortfalls were identified.