Hartwood House opened in May 2013. The home can accommodate up to 50 persons in total across a residential unit, a dementia care unit and a nursing unit. On the day of our inspection there were 32 people living at the home.We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five 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?
This is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observation during the inspection, speaking with eleven people using the service, five relatives and from looking at nine people's care records. We also spoke with the registered manager, eight care workers and one nurse.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
People's care records contained assessments which covered the risks associated with staff providing the care and support they needed. This helped to ensure that people who use the service were safe because staff had taken action to identify and assess the risks to their health and welfare.
People told us that they felt safe. Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported.
Systems were in place to ensure that the service learnt from incidents and accidents, comments and complaints.
Overall the home was adequately staffed, however, the service was reviewing its staffing arrangements to ensure that there continued to be sufficient numbers of qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet all people's needs.
The premises were decorated and maintained to a high standard to ensure the safety and comfort of people who use the service.
Is the service effective
People's needs had been assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. Care plans were detailed and regularly reviewed.
Staff we spoke with were informed about people's needs and were able to tell us about the care they provided. This information was consistent with what was recorded in people's records.
The service worked effectively with other providers to ensure that people received co-ordinated care, treatment and support.
Is the service caring?
People were supported by kind and attentive staff. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and we saw that care was delivered in an unhurried and sensitive manner. One person told us, 'It's very nice here'the staff are very kind'. A relative told us, 'The staff are very good and we are happy. They look after [their relative] as a whole person and meet their needs well'.
People's preferences, likes and dislikes had been recorded and care and support was provided in accordance with peoples wishes.
Is the service responsive?
The service had measures in place to review people's needs on a regular basis. Where concerns were identified, we saw that action had been taken to address these.
People knew how to complain and told us that they were confident that action would be taken where necessary.
There were arrangements in place that ensured people who use the service, their representatives and staff were asked for their views about their care and treatment the service provided. Where the need for improvement was identified action was taken to do this.
Is the service well led?
The service had a consistent management structure that maintained oversight of the home and provided leadership to the staff team.
Staff told us that they felt the service was 'well led' and that the manager was 'a strong leader'. One care worker told us, 'If I had a problem I could go to them [the manager] they are really organised and have a presence on the floor, they have tea with the residents, they are very hands on'. Another care worker told us, 'I have had so much help from the manager, they are very understanding and supportive'.this home is one of the best I have ever worked in, it's fantastic'.
The service had a robust quality assurance system in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify where improvements could be made.