Archived: Ancaster Court Care Home

As part of our inspection we spoke with the area manager and manager, registered nurses and care staff available during the inspection. We also looked at ten care plans and other documentation within the home.

Not everyone living in Ancaster Court were able to tell us about their experiences living there. We spoke with ten people, who told us 'I am much better now than when I first came here.' We were also told, 'I am quite content and looked after fairly well.'

Everyone we spoke with told us they felt safe and expressed that they liked the staff and could talk to people if they were worried or had any concerns.

We considered our inspection findings to answer questions we always ask:

Is the service safe?

Is the service effective?

Is the service caring?

Is the service responsive?

Is the service well-led?

Is the service safe?

We found during our inspection that people were safe because their rights and dignity had been respected. Staff had attended appropriate training to ensure they knew how and when to report safeguarding concerns.

We saw that the home had systems in place to manage accidents and incidents, with evidence seen that there had been learning from previous incidents to prevent them reoccurring.

Is the service effective?

We found during our inspection that the service was effective. Staff we spoke with were able to tell us about people who lived in the home, and their individual needs. People were supported to maintain independence when possible.

People told us they felt involved in decisions about their care and could raise any concerns and these would be listened to and addressed.

Is the service caring?

We found during our inspection that the service was caring. We saw staff interacting in a positive manner, speaking to people in a calm respectful manner at all times. We saw that people were encouraged to participate in activities and responded to warmly and with affection by staff throughout the day.

Is the service responsive?

We found during our inspection that the service to be responsive. We saw evidence that when people's needs had increased, the manager had made appropriate referrals to outside agencies.

People who used the service and their relatives were encouraged to make their views known and raise any concerns if they arose.

Is the service well-led?

We found during our inspection that the service was well led. Staff that we spoke with told us they felt supported and received appropriate training.

People who lived at Ancaster Court told us that the staff were kind, helpful and friendly.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service, because some of the people who used the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. One person told us, "Very nice here, the food is good and the staff lovely."

Staff told us that they worked as a team, and that they felt supported by the senior staff. One staff member said, "The morale of staff has improved and we feel supported."

We found that people who used the service had been involved, where possible, in care decisions and in life choices. Care was delivered in a way that ensured their dignity was promoted.

We saw that care delivery was in line with people's individual care plan and that the staffing levels had been increased at key times, such as meal times. Staff training had been progressed and ensured that staff had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet people's needs.

Documentation in people's care files had not been completed correctly, with gaps and inconsistencies seen.

Staff told us that they worked as a team, and that they felt supported by the senior staff. One staff member said, "I enjoy working here." Another said, "It can be hectic, but we support each other."

We found that people who used the service were not fully involved in care decisions and in life choices. Care was not always delivered in a way that ensured their dignity was promoted. Care plans and delivery of care for some people was at times more task orientated than person centred. The environment was not suitable for people who had dementia.

People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. There was an effective complaints system available. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.