6 April 2017
During a routine inspection
We undertook this comprehensive unannounced inspection on the 6 April 2017. The service was registered on the 12 April 2016 and this was the first inspection. The service opened in June 2016.
The service had 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe living in the service. Staff showed a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect people. People’s medicines were stored safely and administered as prescribed.
There were enough staff on duty to provide people with the support they needed and pre-employment checks had been carried out before new staff were appointed.
Staff were trained and supported to understand people’s needs and provide their care in the right way. Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and confirmed they had received formal supervision from their line manager and regular staff meetings were arranged.
We found staff ensured they gained consent from people prior to completing care tasks. They worked within mental capacity legislation when people were assessed as not having capacity to make their own decisions.
People received a well-balanced diet that offered variety and choice. People liked the meals provided to them and their nutritional needs were met. Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people received effective care.
People were treated with respect, kindness and understanding. Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of the people they cared for, their preferences and abilities. People told us staff were friendly, caring and had time to sit and talk to them. We observed staff had developed good relationships with people who used the service and their relatives.
People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff who encouraged people to be independent and make choices and decisions in their daily lives.
Care plans recorded people’s needs and preferences and staff followed this information when providing support. People who became anxious were provided with individual reassurance and support.
We saw people were encouraged to engage in a range of meaningful activities and to maintain their independence where possible. Relatives told us they could visit at any time and staff welcomed them.
The service was run in an open and inclusive manner. There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the services people received. People who used and visited the service were supported to share their opinion of the service provided.
No complaints had been made to the registered manager or registered provider. People we spoke with knew how to raise concerns and told us they would be confident to do so.