Archived: Alexandra Park Home

Updated 6 January 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 inspection took place on 1 December 2015 and was unannounced. It was undertaken by an inspector for adult social care and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we met and spoke with eight people who lived at the service, two relatives and four members of staff including the registered manager and deputy manager. After the inspection we spoke with two additional relatives and a health care professional who visited the service.

We also looked at three care records related to people’s individual care needs, three staff recruitment files including supervision and staff training records. We look at the records associated with the management of medicines.

We used a Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed documentation related to essential services and documents relating to the management of money.

As part of the inspection we observed the interactions between people and staff and discussed people’s care needs with staff. We also looked around the premises.

Updated 6 January 2016

We inspected this service on 1 December 2015. The inspection was unannounced. Alexandra Park Home is a care home registered for a maximum of 15 adults some of whom have had long term mental health needs.

At the time of our inspection there were 11 adults living at the service. The service is located in a large detached house, on two floors with access to a front and back garden. We previously inspected the service on 10 September 2013 and the service was found to be meeting the regulations inspected.

Alexandra Park Home has a registered manager at the service. 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.

During the inspection people were calm and there was a relaxed atmosphere. People using the service informed us that they were happy with the care and services provided. We saw staff were caring, kind and compassionate and treated people with dignity and respect.

Staff were aware of people’s needs as their needs were carefully documented within detailed care plans. Staff responded quickly to people’s change in needs if they were physically or mentally unwell.

Care records were individualised, contained people’s personal histories and reflected their choices, likes and dislikes, and arrangements were in place to ensure that these were responded to. Care plans provided detailed information on people’s health needs which were closely monitored. Risk assessments had been carried out and updated regularly. These contained guidance for staff on protecting people.

People were supported to maintain good health through regular access to healthcare professionals, such as GPs and the local general hospital. People spoke highly of the food and people’s cultural and religious needs were facilitated by staff.

People had their medicines managed safely although we found minor discrepancies with two medicine records and stocks. People received their medicines as prescribed. Storage and management of medicines was robust with clear processes in place.

Staff had been carefully recruited and provided with training to enable them to care effectively for people. Staff felt supported and there was evidence of regular supervision taking place in recent months. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse and described what action they would take to protect people against harm. Staff told us they felt confident any incidents or allegations would be fully investigated.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs.

We found the premises were clean and tidy, and measures were in place for infection control. The decor was dated but well maintained and there was a record of essential services being checked. There was clear documentation relating to complaints and incidents.

Management of money for people using the service was well managed.

People told us the management was a visible presence within the home. Staff talked positively about their jobs telling us they enjoyed their work and felt valued. The staff we met were

caring, kind and compassionate.

There was a stair lift to access upstairs and there was an accessible shower room for people with mobility problems.

Although the quality of the care was good, there were other areas where the service had not been consistently well led. Prior to August 2015 supervision did not take place on a regular basis and there was little evidence of involvement by staff or people living at the service in the running of the service.