9 and 23 October 2014
During a routine inspection
Gwen Walford provides accommodation and personal care for a maximum of 30 people. The facilities within the home are arranged over three floors. When we carried out our inspection the home accommodated 17 people.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.
This inspection took place on 9 and 23 October 2014 and was unannounced.
People we spoke with told us that they were happy with the care and support they received from the staff. This was supported by relatives we spoke with as well as our observations and the records we saw during the inspection.
People told us that they felt safe living at the home. Staff were able to tell us how they kept people safe and had an understanding around the prevention of abuse. We saw that staff were available to meet people’s needs in a timely manner. Risks to people’s safety and welfare had been assessed to ensure that people received the care and support they required. Care plans were in place and up dated. People received their medicines on time and as prescribed.
Staff had awareness and demonstrated ways that they up held people’s privacy and dignity. During our inspection we saw that people were enabled to maintain their independence and make choices about their care and support. People were engaged in leisure time interests while engaging with members of staff. People who used the service told us that they were happy with the staffing arrangements at the home and with the number of staff on duty.
We saw that care plans were in place and that these were regularly reviewed and updated. Staff were aware of people’s individual needs and were able to describe the care needs of people who lived at the home. We found that people had their health care needs met by visiting medical professionals.
The registered manager and staff were aware of the requirements around the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). These are to protect people who may not be able to make an informed choice about their care.
We received positive comments from people about the food provided at the home and about the choice available to them. Staff engaged with people and offered people assistance and encouragement. People had access to drinks throughout the day. Where people had special dietary requirements we saw that these were provided for and specialist input was obtained.
Systems we in place to monitor the quality of the service provided to people. Staff told us that they received training in order that they could do they job and meet the needs of people who lived at the home.