27 June 2014
During a routine inspection
' Is the service caring?
' Is the service responsive?
' Is the service safe?
' Is the service effective?
' Is the service well led?
This is a summary of what we found-
Is the service safe?
People in the service told us that they felt "safe and secure" living in the home. They told us that consent was sought and that no one bullied them. We checked that any new member of staff had been suitably vettted before they had access to vulnerable people. Staff were trained in adult protection.
Is the service effective?
We read some simple but effective care plans. We saw that because of the effective care people received their health and wellbeing had improved. There was evidence to show that the provider sought the support of other professionals to make sure people got the best care possible. One person told us:
"I did have a problem but I took the support and advice given to me and I am so much better."
Is the service caring?
The people who lived in the home talked about being cared for in an open and accepting way. They told us that the provider really did care about all of them. People spoke about the home as their family. Staff also felt that working in the home was like being "in a big family". We observed a lot of humour, sensitivity and compassion in this house.
People spoke about the way food was prepared and how people were encouraged to share meals. One person said:
"Just like in a family being given good food shows how much you are cared for."
Is the service responsive?
We met very assertive people in this service who were obviously used to asking for what they wanted and what they needed. People told us about their preference for going out to shop and to the hairdresser. People also spoke about attending church or collecting their own pension money. We saw evidence to show that these needs were responded to and people were taken out to allow them retain as much independence as possible and to remain part of the community.
Is the service well-led?
The provider was also the manager of this service. She and her husband lived in the property and spent their waking hours with the six people who lived in the home. The provider and her husband delivered care, prepared food and dealt with the needs of everyone in the home. The staff told us that they were well supported by the provider. People in the home talked about the provider in a very positive way.
The provider had a suitable quality assurance system in place and used an independent consultant to check on the operation of the home so that the delivery of care could be assessed by an objective person.