Archived: Ravenscroft Care Home

Updated 19 April 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This announced inspection took place on 7 March 2018. It was completed by one adult social care inspector.

The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Ravenscroft is a 'care home.' People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Ravenscroft is a large, detached Victorian property close to the centre of Carlisle. The service provides care and accommodation for up to three people with a learning disability.

During our visit we spent time with the two people who were living in Ravenscroft on the day of our inspection visit, the registered manager/provider and her husband. We contacted two relatives on the telephone to ask their opinion of the care and support provided. We also observed care practices and how the registered manager interacted with people in their care. This helped us understand the experience of people who could not easily talk with us.

We also contacted health and adult social care professionals who have dealings with the service and the people supported by it.

We looked at care records of the two people who lived in Ravenscroft together with their medication records. We also looked at records relating to the running of the home. No staff had been employed for a number of years and one part time family member sometimes provided support for the registered manager. We also checked the building to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

Updated 19 April 2018

This unannounced inspection took place on the 7 March 2018 and was completed by one adult social care inspector. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure that people would be in and that the registered manager would be available.

Ravenscroft Care Home (Ravenscroft) is a small, family run, residential care home. It is located just outside Carlisle city centre and is a short walk from local amenities. The building is a large Victorian property and is suitable to provide accommodation for people needing help with personal care and support. It does not have a lift but some of the accommodation is provided at ground floor level and is appropriate for people who may have difficulty in climbing stairs.

There was a registered manager in place who was also the registered owner. 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.

At the last inspection on 07 March 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

We spoke with both people who lived in the home and they indicated to us that they felt safe and "very happy" living there. Family members we spoke with told us their relatives were safe and happy living at Ravenscroft.

We found that people living at Ravenscroft were well supported to have good and regular contact with their families. This was recognised as a matter of great importance to the registered manager and people who lived there. We saw that people were well supported and cared for and were clearly relaxed and comfortable in their home where they lived as valued family members.

Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. The registered manager had completed training in adult protection.

The registered manager and her husband provided care, support and guidance for the two people who lived at Ravenscroft. No staff had been recruited for many years.

We looked around the building and found it had been well maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

We found that medicines were managed well and in line with people's needs and prescriptions.

We observed, during the inspection, visit warm and friendly interactions between the registered manager and people who lived at the home. We saw the registered manager was able to communicate well with the people they supported even though verbal communication was limited.

Health care needs were met by visits from the GP and the district nursing service. Consultant psychiatric advice was accessed when this was necessary.

People's nutritional and dietary needs were met and healthy eating was promoted.

The care and support plans contained appropriate and up to date information to meet the different health and care needs of the people who lived in Ravenscroft. People were involved in planning how they were supported and in deciding their lifestyles and activities.

There was a complaints procedure in place but relatives told us they had no complaints at all about the service provided.

The service was well managed and maintained and up to date records related to the running of the home and all health and safety checks were kept. This ensured a safe, well run environment for the people who lived there.

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