Archived: Sunrise Operations Hale Barns Limited

This inspection took place on 21 June 2017 and was unannounced.

At the last inspection Sunrise Operations Hale Barns Limited was rated good. At this inspection we found the service remained good overall.

Sunrise Operations Hale Barns Limited is a care home that provides accommodation for a maximum of 98 persons who require nursing or personal care. At this inspection 83 people were living there.

People were not always responded to in a timely manner by the staff supporting them.

People did not always have their medicines at the times they preferred them. However, people were supported with their medicines by trained and competent staff members.

People continued to remain safe as staff knew how to recognise and respond to concerns of ill-treatment and abuse.

The provider followed safe recruitment procedures when employing staff members.

People were assisted by a staff team who had the skills and training to effectively support them. People had access to health care when they needed it to maintain good health.

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives. They were assisted by staff in the least restrictive way possible.

People received support that continued to be caring and respectful. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by those providing assistance.

People had care and support plans that continued to reflect their personal needs and preferences. When changes occurred in people’s personal and medical circumstances, these plans were reviewed to reflect the changes.

Staff members knew people’s likes and dislikes and supported them in the manner they preferred. People and their relatives were encouraged to raise any concerns or complaints. The provider had systems in place to address any issues raised with them.

Sunrise Operations Hale Barns Limited continued to be well-led by a management team that people and staff found approachable and supportive. People were involved in decisions about their care and support and their suggestions were valued by the provider.

Staff members felt valued as employees and their opinions and ideas were listened to by the provider. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of service they provided and where necessary made changes to drive improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We went to the 'reminiscence neighbourhood' at 9.20pm and found there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of the 22 people who used the service.

We saw staff were actively engaging with people in a compassionate and caring manner. Suitable music was being played and there was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We were unable to speak to people who used the service because of their complex needs.

A staff member said 'Now we have three it is so much better. I have no concerns about safety of residents because there is always a third member of staff available on the floor.'

Before this visit, we had received information of concern relating to staffing levels in the 'assisted living neighbourhood' specifically during the afternoon.

One person who used the service told us: 'The care is good, I like it here. Most of the time there is enough staff, I have no concerns.' Another person who used the service said 'Staff are lovely and helpful. As far as I'm concerned there is always plenty of staff on. I'm quite content and happy'.

As a result of concerns we received regarding staffing levels on the reminiscence neighbourhood, we undertook an inspection on Wednesday 2 October 2013 between the times of 9.30pm and 1.00am. On arrival, we found six people who used the service were sat in the kitchen area. One female, who appeared very confused, was naked from the waist down and was wandering from chair to chair. No staff were present in the kitchen area offering any form of supervision.

We located and informed a member of staff of the needs of the half-dressed female. We saw the member of staff attend to the personal needs of this person in a compassionate and sensitive way. However, this was undertaken in the kitchen area in full view of other people who used the service, without regard to the person's privacy or dignity.

We saw a person wondering the hallway with a walking stick in a distressed and confused state. We informed staff, who were dealing with the needs of other people at that time.

It was clear that there were insufficient numbers of staff available to the safeguard the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service on the reminiscence neighbourhood.

We were unable to speak to people who used the service due to varrying stages of dementia.

We found that service plans and risk assessments provided clear guidance to inform staff what they needed to do in order to provide care and support according to the personal needs of each person.

A person we spoke with said 'I feel very safe here. The managers are very approachable and if I was really worried about anything I'd be able to talk to them.'

We did not observe anyone who used the service who gave any cause for concern in relation to nutrition and hydration.

On the whole we found there were sufficient numbers of appropriately trained staff to meet the needs of people who used the service.

One person who used the service told us; 'I think staffing levels are excellent though we can always do with more. If we are not happy they will always do something about it. I'm very content."

We found that the provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.

We found medicines were safely administered and people who used the service received their medicines in the way they had been prescribed.

Both people confirmed that staff asked for verbal consent before any care was carried out and that they were involved in the care plans.

Neither person we spoke with had any concerns around the medication process.

The visitor told us that the staff were very active and never gave up. They said 'The staff are helpful, work well and go out of their way to look at new ways to help.' The visitor told us that the continuity of care was excellent.

The people we spoke with confirmed they didn't have the need to make any formal complaints, however, if they needed to they would speak with the staffing team who would always assist.