This inspection was carried out on 14 July 2015 and was unannounced.
Margaret House is a care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 19 older people with residential needs. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people living at the home. There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
When we last inspected the service on 21 June 2013 we found them to be meeting the required standards. At this inspection we found that they had continued to meet the standards.
People living at the home and their relatives were positive about the home, the manager and the staff. Their feedback was sought and any suggestions were acted upon.
Staff were kind and caring and people’s privacy and dignity was promoted. The care provided was outstanding and staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs. Staff had received appropriate training and supervision.
People’s safety was promoted and there were robust risk assessments in place to maintain this. However people were supported to take positive risks and be in control of their life. Care plans and care practices were reviewed regularly and people were involved to ensure their needs were met the way they wanted. Accidents and incidents were reviewed by the manager to ensure any action needed was taken. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines in accordance with prescriber’s instructions. Staff knew how to recognise and respond to allegations of abuse.
People were offered a choice of nutritious food in accordance with their needs and preferences.
People had access to activities that complemented their interests and hobbies. There were links with the outside community.
Health and social care professionals were very positive about the staff team at Margaret House and the service they provided.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are put in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. At the time of the inspection nobody had been deprived of their liberty, people had capacity and the freedom to leave the home as they pleased. The manager and staff were familiar with their role in relation to MCA and DoLS.
The management team was dedicated to provide an outstanding service to people. Their ethos and values were well known to staff who had good knowledge about their own responsibilities and job roles. We received very positive comments about the management team from people who used the service, their relatives, staff team and health care professional. The provider and manager closely monitored and sought feedback about the services provided to identify areas for improvement and drive forward improvements in the home.