8 May 2014
During a routine inspection
We found that the home had not met the minimum standards required for cleanliness and infection control.
If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
We considered our inspection findings to answer 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.
Is the service safe?
People at the service were cared for in a safe and well maintained home. There was enough staff available to provide them with the care that was required. We did however find that people were not always protected against the risk of infection because some areas of the home did not meet the required standards for cleanliness and infection control. We also found that although people were pleased with the laundry systems in place the laundry rooms were used for storage of items that were not part of the laundry process.
Is the service effective?
When we spoke with people who used the service and observed the care that was being provided, we saw that people were happy in their environment and enjoyed the company of staff and the manager. People said that staff were busy but that there were enough staff available to take care of their needs. Staff told us that they felt supported and were able to spend time with people. We saw that the care plans were regularly reviewed and contained detailed information about the person and their needs which meant that staff were kept aware of people's needs and were therefore able to provide the correct care and support.
Is the service caring?
People were supported by kind and caring staff. We observed staff interacting with people and had time to sit with people and participate in games and activities. When we observed a person became staff were quick to intervene and reassure the person. The staff provided them with an explanation and responded to their concerns. People told us that staff were, 'lovely' and that, 'nothing was too much trouble' for them.
Is the service responsive?
Care plans and risk assessments were reviewed to ensure that they responded quickly to any changes in people's needs. We saw that staff responded to people's call bells and people in need of care in a timely way. For example on the day of our inspection the provider was requested to take a person for an appointment and they were quick to arrange transport and staff to accompany the person and support them, whilst ensuring that there was sufficient staff to support people at the service.
Is the service well-led?
During our inspection we saw that the manager spent time with people, talking with them and playing games. People we spoke with told us that the manager listened to any issues they had and was supportive. Staff were also happy and said that the manager was always involved with the care of people. We saw that the manager was continuously monitoring the effectiveness of the care, through spot checks, supervisions, and audits. We also noted that all care plan updates were also checked by the manager to ensure that staff had made all necessary updates.