All inspections: Windy Knowe Nursing Home

The inspection took place on 14 and 15 January 2015 and was unannounced. Windy Knowe Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care to 40 people with dementia. Some bedrooms are shared and some have their own en-suite facilities.

The manager was registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We last inspected the care home on 31 October 2013. At that inspection we found the service was meeting all the essential standards that we inspected.

Some people had lived at Windy Knowe for a considerable time and considered it to be their home, others had moved in more recently. There was a team of 15 staff on duty each day, five care staff and one on induction, four nursing staff, including the manager and deputy manager, two kitchen staff, two cleaners and the maintenance person. All of the staff had completed induction training and received regular training by the provider.

We had some concerns about the staffing levels and whether they were sufficient in all areas of the home at all times. We also had some concerns about infection control and how this was managed. We discussed our concerns with the management team.

The home used safe systems of recruiting new staff. They had an induction programme in place that included training staff to ensure they were competent in the role they were doing at the home.

People were able to see their friends and families when they wanted there were no restrictions. Visitors were seen to be welcomed by all staff.

The staff we spoke with were able to tell us the action they would take to ensure that people were protected from abuse. All staff had received training about safeguarding. We found that medicines were managed safely and records confirmed that people received the medication prescribed by their doctor. Records we looked at showed that the required safety checks for gas, electric and fire safety were carried out.

People we spoke with confirmed that they had choices in all aspects of daily living. Menus were flexible and alternatives were always provided for anyone who didn’t want to have the meal off the menu that was planned. People we spoke with said they always had plenty to eat.

The five care plans we looked at gave details of people’s medical history and medication, and information about the person’s life and their preferences.

The expert by experience commented:

“People were happy with the staff and the care provided. I spent time on both floors and staff were friendly and provided care in a respectful way. The lunch was tasty and the pudding was most enjoyable. People were happy with the food provided and there was plenty”.

We asked three people who lived at the home if they were happy and well cared for, if staff were kind and if they felt safe. They told us "This is a very nice place, the staff are wonderful", "I have everything I need" and "I am very safe here".

We spoke with a friend of a person who lived at the home and six relatives. Comments from them included:

"My friend decided she wanted to live here, this is a wonderful home, she gets everything she needs and the staff are so kind"

"I come every day and can't speak highly enough of the staff and the home"

"I am always involved and I'm kept informed"

"It's like one big family, we all go out together" and

"It's fantastic, we couldn't wish for better".

We saw that people received care and treatment in accordance with their wishes. People who used the service and friends and relatives said staff always explained what they were doing.

People's care records contained enough information to show how they were to be supported and cared for. Risk assessments had been undertaken and where risk had been identified there were clear instructions to staff about how those risks should be managed. Staff knew people well and understood their needs and risks. This meant that people were cared for by staff who understood them and by documentation which provided appropriate information to support them.

We looked at the home's medicines management arrangements and found them to be satisfactory. We observed medication being administered during our visit and saw that people were given their prescribed medicines as required and medication administration records (MARs) were completed appropriately. Medicine management audits took place on a weekly basis and this meant people were protected from the possibility of medication errors.

We saw that staff were regularly supervised and appropriately trained to support the people who lived at the home. The home regularly monitored themselves and this meant that issues could be identified promptly and action could be taken to make improvements.

People who used the service and their relatives whom we spoke with told us they were happy living at the home, were well cared for and treated with dignity and respect. People told us:

'It's very good, they look after us very well',

'Excellent, nothing is too much trouble',

'They are good to me and treat me well'.

People told us they were involved in their care and treatment and were able to make choices in every day living activities such as what time to get up and the level of assistance needed with personal care.

We observed that people were well cared for and treated with dignity and respect. People's needs were assessed, planned and reviewed. We found that the provider monitored the service and gained views on the service from staff and people who used the service. A complaints policy and procedure were in place and displayed.

Staffing levels were appropriate and safe. We found that staff were experienced and knowledgeable in the people they were caring for. Staff also demonstrated an awareness and understanding of how to protect people from abuse.

Two staff areas needed some maintenance to ensure risks to safety and hygiene were minimised.

We spoke with people living in the home who told us that they felt respected. People told us that staff knock on the door before coming in. One person told us that they could go to bed and get up when they wanted.

One relative we spoke with told us that they were always kept informed and involved with any changes to the health, care or support for their relative.

One relative told us that she had lunch with her mother several times a week and visited everyday which kept her involved with her mother.

One person told us that she felt confident when leaving the home that her mother was well looked after. We were told that they were always kept up to date with what was happening with their relative.

People living in the home told us that they felt safe living there.

People told us they get the medicines as and when they need them.

We spoke with one relative who told us if it could be possible she would give the staff 120%. 'Staff are great, it's the same as this every day, there is no front, it is just what it is.'

Archived: Windy Knowe Nursing Home

All Inspections

14/15 January 2015

During a routine inspection

31 October 2013

During a routine inspection

8 February 2013

During a routine inspection

2 August 2011

During a routine inspection