The inspection team was made up of one inspector. We set out to answer our five questions; Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, discussions with people using the service, their relatives, the staff supporting them and looking at records.
If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
We spoke with three people and two relatives of people who lived at the home. People told us that they felt safe at the home. One person said, "People are very kind. The girls are all reliable, kind, courteous and helpful."
On the day of our inspection the home appeared to be clean and bright and was free of any bad odours. We looked in the communal bathrooms, wet rooms and toilets. All were clean and had liquid soap and paper hand towel dispensers for hand washing purposes. We spoke with two care workers who were able to demonstrate that they had a good understanding of infection control procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment and effective hand washing. We also saw that the environmental health service had awarded the home's kitchen a rating of 5, the highest available.
Is the service effective?
People told us that the care workers always knocked on their door before entering their room and asked for their consent before any care was delivered. One person told us, "They always ask for my consent. In the morning they say, "Is it alright if I get your glasses out of your bag?"
The two care workers we spoke with told us that if a person did not want the care to be provided they would be encouraged to receive it and the benefits would be explained to them. If the person continued to refuse the care then it would be offered again later. Both care workers told us that they were encouraged to undertake additional training and supported to gain additional qualifications.
Is the service caring?
People told us that they were very happy with the care that they or their relative received. One person said, "People are very kind. The girls are all reliable, kind, courteous and helpful." A relative described the care given as, "...pretty good to excellent." They went on to say, "I only hear kindness, even when they don't know there are visitors here."
Is the service responsive?
One person told us, "They are very caring. If you ring they come straight away. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." People and their relatives commented that their views were listened to and acted upon. One comment was, "...very well....acted on immediately."
We looked at the care records of three people who lived at the home. We found that these were very personalised and detailed. We saw that people's needs were evaluated and reviewed by care workers on a monthly basis and reviewed with people and their relatives on a six monthly basis. Care plans were also reviewed following any change in need, such as those arising from an admission to hospital.
Is the service well-led?
People told us that they were happy with the quality of the care provided. One person told us, "I came to try it out and decided that I would not find anything better."
We saw that satisfaction surveys were undertaken on a rolling programme with survey forms given to two people who lived at the home a month. We noted that the responses to the questions asked in the survey were mostly positive. One person had commented, "I think it's super."
We saw records that showed that there were regular staff meetings at which the quality of care, care plans and infection control had been discussed. The records also showed that there had also been meetings with relatives and monthly meetings with people who lived at the home.
We saw that there were a number of quality audits undertaken on a regular basis.