Background to this inspection
Updated
22 May 2015
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 was 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.
The inspection took place on 24 November 2014 and was unannounced.
The inspection was undertaken by two adult social care inspectors 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, in this case of people living with dementia.
Before the inspection we looked at all of the information which the Care Quality Commission already held about the provider. This included previous inspections and any information the provider had to notify us about. We invited the local authority to provide us with any information they held about the New Milton House. We took any information received into account.
It should be noted that the provider was not requested to complete a provider information return (PIR) prior to the inspection. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the site visit we talked with 17 people who used the service, two visitors, five staff, one activities coordinator and the cook who was on duty.
Furthermore, we met with the registered manager of New Milton House. We also spent time with people in the communal lounges and in their bedrooms with their consent. The expert by experience joined one group of people for lunch.
We undertook a Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) observation in one unit of New Milton House. SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who may experience difficulty talking with us.
Updated
22 May 2015
This inspection was unannounced and took place on the 24 November 2014.
The home was previously inspected in July 2013. Two breaches of legal requirements concerning consent to care and treatment and records were identified. We undertook a follow-up inspection in November 2013 and found improvements had been made to meet the relevant requirements.
New Milton House is a purpose built care home located in Alsager. It offers accommodation and personal care for up to 39 older people. There is a separate unit within the home called ‘The Coppice’ that provides care for up to 19 people living with dementia. The rest of the home provides traditional residential care for 20 people within the ‘Summerfields unit'. At the time of our inspection the service was providing accommodation and care to 38 people.
People who live in the home are accommodated on both floors of the two storey building and access between the first and second floors is via passenger lift or by the stairway. Bedrooms are all single, but none have en-suite facilities. There are shops, a library, doctor's surgery and a bus stop close by.
At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager at New Milton House. 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 our inspection, people living at New Milton House were observed to be comfortable and relaxed in their home environment and in the presence of staff. People spoken with told us that they were well cared for and confirmed that they felt safe from harm. For example, we received comments such as: “I feel very safe”; “I’m well cared for and extremely safe here”; “I feel valued and protected” and “There are enough staff to help us.”
People using the service and relatives spoken with were generally complimentary of the standard of care provided at New Milton House. We received positive feedback which confirmed people spoken with were of the opinion that their care needs were met by the provider. Comments received included: “Very good quality care I give them 9 ¾ out of 10. It is A1”; “Yes I feel very happy with my care. It is spot on”; “I have no problems. I am very happy with all my care” and “I am sometimes invited to join Mum for lunch.”
Staff confirmed they had access to a range of induction, mandatory and other training that was relevant to individual roles and responsibilities. The training was delivered via e-learning or face to face sessions. Staff also had access to supervision sessions.
During our inspection we noted that a range of activities had taken place in the home by the activities coordinator.
We saw that there were corporate policies and procedures in place relating to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberties (DoLS) however there was no evidence on training records provided that staff had completed training in the Mental Capacity Act. Likewise, staff spoken with reported that they had not completed training in this key area.
We found that people living on the dementia unit were not supported to choose daily meal options and there were no picture cards or pictorial menus available to help people living with dementia to make meal choices.
There were auditing systems in place so that the service could be monitored and developed. There were also arrangements for people who lived in the home and their relatives to be consulted about their opinions on the standard of care provided. Staff told us that they found the manager of the home to be approachable and supportive. Comments received from staff included: “I like working here”; “The manager is approachable and there if you need help” and “I feel supported to do my work.”
People using the service and relatives spoken with told us that in the event they needed to raise a concern they were confident they would be listened to and the issue acted upon promptly.