Archived: 29 Springdale

' Is the service safe?

' Is the service effective?

' Is the service caring?

' Is the service responsive?

' Is the service well led?

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

We saw evidence that the premises were safe and well maintained. The provider ensured that risks to people's safety were assessed and managed. Staff were trained in safeguarding people, had information to help them with this and told us they were confident their concerns would be listened to. The Care Quality Commission (the Commission) has a responsibility to monitor the use of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which are related to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and are in place to protect people from having their freedom illegally restricted when care providers need to take steps to ensure people are kept safe from harm. We asked the manager about the recent Supreme Court ruling that affected the application of these safeguards. They demonstrated they were aware of this and told us they had recently made an application under these safeguards. They understood that they were obliged to inform us of the outcome of this. This means that the manager was taking steps to ensure people's legal rights were protected. The manager carried out competency checks on medication administration and referred to safeguarding in meetings with staff. The provider had a system for checking the safety and quality of the service.

Is the service effective?

The provider used recognised good service principles to guide staff. Staff used these and an approach based on the individual needs of people to promote people's rights and their independence in the community. We saw the manager and staff used other advice and guidance from specialists to assist them in meeting people's needs. We saw this in practice. Peoples representatives had also written the following comments in surveys; "Staff are very aware that family members need to keep in contact".

Is the service caring?

People could not tell us their views and there were no visitors on the day we inspected, but we saw the following comments in surveys returned to the home by people's representatives; "The home is clean, comfortable, warm and very relaxing", "look after my sister well", "first class service for my brother". We saw staff treated people with warmth and respect. They knew people well and involved people as far as possible in their care decisions.

Is the service responsive?

We saw people's needs were regularly reviewed by people's keyworkers. Records confirmed people's preferences and detailed how people communicated these. We saw care and support was delivered in accordance with people's needs and wishes. People had access to activities important to them and had been supported to maintain relationships with relatives.

Is the service well led?

Staff had a good understanding of the ethos of the home and quality assurance processes were in place. The manager confirmed that she found the provider's audit process a supportive tool. The staff member we spoke with was clear about their role and had confidence there concerns would be listened to and though they expressed some doubts about proposed shift changes they said they felt they could voice their views. We saw regular meetings took place.