Archived: Vera James House

The care home accommodates up to 42 people in one purpose-built property. One of the areas in the home provides care to people living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff used their training to safeguard people wherever possible and support people to keep them safe. If staff had any concerns about people's safety and welfare, they knew where to report this both inside and outside of the home. People received their medicines as prescribed and staff ensured they followed infection prevention guidance and good practise. Staff encouraged people to eat healthily and drink enough.

Staff were kind, caring and knew people’s individual needs, wishes and preferences well. They also knew and monitored people’s assessed risks. Staff listened and respected people’s concerns and suggestions. Staff gave people privacy, treated them with dignity and respect when supporting them, and helped maintain people's independence. Staff involved people and their relatives, when reviewing people’s care and support requirements. Staff were responsive to people’s changing care and support needs. Care plans were reviewed and updated when changes occurred.

Enough skilled and suitable staff had been safely recruited. Staff had received the required training, spot checks and ongoing support to help them maintain and improve their skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities.

Compliments about the service provided by staff had been received. Complaints were investigated and resolved wherever possible and actions were taken to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Monitoring and oversight of the service provided was effective in identifying and driving improvements. The registered manager and the staff team took on board learning when things went wrong. The registered manager led by example and had cultivated an open and honest staff team culture. Audits were undertaken and there was a home improvement plan in place. The registered manager reported to the board of directors to ensure organisational oversight was in place. The registered manager and staff team worked well with other organisations, health and social care professionals to provide people with joined up care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service under the previous provider was Good, published 31 May 2019. This service was registered with us on 02 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was based on the service being unrated under its current provider's registration.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff made sure that people were protected against the transmission of infection from visitors by scheduling visits, limiting areas that could be accessed and being available to escort visitors. Staff put appropriate actions into place to make sure people were admitted safely into the service.

Staff had enough personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and aprons, and had supported people so that they also understood the need for this.

Regular COVID-19 testing was carried out to make sure action could be taken quickly to keep people safe.

The home was clean and staff had increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. Staff adapted the layout of communal areas to support people to social distance from each other.

The provider made sure staff and the manager received enough support during the pandemic and when additional staff were needed. Additional risk assessments were completed for staff at increased risk of catching COVID-19 and actions put into place to reduce the risks to them.