We visited the service to check on the care and welfare of people who were living at Eldon House Care Home. The visit was unannounced.During our visit we used different methods to help us understand the experiences of
people using the service. We spoke with people living at the home, staff members, the acting manager and the provider, and we spent time observing the care provided in the home. We also liaised with the Local Authority in relation to information.
We spoke to ten people living at the home and two visiting relatives. People we spoke
with were all positive about the care and support that they or their relative received. One person told us, "I like my room, and they have made me very comfortable here" and another said, "the food suits me, and the portions are plenty for me". People told us that staff were kind and caring. They told us that staff assisted them when they needed it. One relative said, "I have no complaints about the home, and the owner often pops in to check we are alright". People said that they got up and retired to bed when they choose.
We found that the home was comfortable and that people were able to personalise their bedrooms as they chose to, to reflect their own taste and interests. People were consulted about their care. But this was not formally documented or recorded.
People told us about the lack of activities at the home, and said they were bored sitting doing nothing all day. We were told that there was no activities organiser, and that staff on duty provided activities, when time and staffing levels allowed.
The environment was well maintained by the provider, people told us that they only needed to ask, and the job was done straight away.
We checked the administration of medication, and found that people had their medicines at the times they needed them, and in a safe way.
We found concerns in relation to consent to care and treatment, in that there were no systems in place to gain and review consent from people who live in the home, and act upon them.
We saw that care plans and individual risk assessments were not comprehensively and clearly documented, and did not provide more detailed information for care staff on actions that were needed to minimise risks to people.
The home's staff recruitment and induction system was in need of updating. Regular and documented staff supervision was not taking place, and staff needed update and refresher training.
We found concerns in relation to the quality assurance of the service. We saw that there had been no audits of the service, and there had been no recent surveys undertaken by the home.