Background to this inspection
Updated
15 June 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: The inspection team consisted an adult social care inspector and an expert by experience with knowledge of supporting people with similar care needs.
Service and service type: Homelands is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.
The service has a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection: This inspection was unannounced.
What we did: We reviewed all information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included, previous inspection reports and details of incidents that the provider had notified us about.
During the inspection we spoke with 10 people and one relative to ask about their experience of the care provided. We observed how staff provided care throughout the inspection including during the mid-day meal. We also spoke with six staff , the registered manager and a health and social care professional who was visiting the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and a selection of medicine records. We also looked at four staff files around staff recruitment and various records in relation to training and supervision of staff, management records and the service’s policies and procedures.
Updated
15 June 2019
About the service: Homelands is a residential care home that was providing accommodation and personal care to 20 people at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service: There was a relaxed informal atmosphere at Homelands and staff provided support with kindness and compassion. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s support needs and planned staffing levels were routinely achieved. When people requested support, this was provided promptly.
Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their role in protecting people from all forms of abuse or discrimination. Risks were well managed and staff understood how to meet people’s care and support needs.
Staff were recruited safely and had received induction training in line with current best practice. Training was updated regularly to ensure staff had the skills necessary to meet people’s support needs.
Care plans were informative and accurate. They provided staff with guidance on people’s support needs and communication preferences. These records had been regularly updated and included information about people’s backgrounds to help staff understand their individual needs.
The service employed an activities coordinator and people enjoyed participating in games and quizzes during our inspection. Records showed a range of activities were offered within the service and that some people were able to access the community independently.
The service was well-led. Staff were well motivated and told us the registered manager was supportive and approachable. Quality assurance systems were appropriate and people’s feedback was valued and acted upon. The provider visited the service regularly and was in the process of introducing additional systems to support the registered manager. People’s feedback was valued and acted upon.
At our previous inspection the service was rated Good. (Report published 5 October 2016.)
Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned based on the rating. If we receive any concerns we may bring our inspection forward.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk