Archived: Shipbourne House Limited

The home had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Although staff worked hard to ensure people were kept safe, there were not always enough staff to support people in a timely manner and meet their needs appropriately. Identified risks to people’s safety were recorded on an individual basis and there was guidance for staff to be able to know how to support people safely and effectively.

Medicines were managed and administered safely in the home and people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff were experienced and knowledgeable in their work and new members of staff were required to complete an appropriate induction. However, some training was out of date and staff did not feel supported by the registered manager or the operations manager.

The CQC is required to monitor the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. The registered manager and senior staff ensured the service operated in accordance with the MCA and DoLS procedures and staff demonstrated a good understanding of the MCA, DoLS, capacity and consent.

People had enough to eat and drink and enjoyed their meals. When needed, people’s intake of food and drinks was monitored and recorded and prompt action and timely referrals were made to relevant healthcare professionals when any needs or concerns were identified.

Although staff in the home were caring and treated people with dignity and respect, there were not always enough staff to be consistently attentive to people’s emotional and social wellbeing requirements. Relatives were welcome to visit as and when they wished and people were encouraged and supported to be as independent as possible.

Assessments had been completed prior to admission, to ensure people’s needs could be met. People were involved in planning their care and received health care and support that was individual to their needs. Risk assessments detailed what action was required or had been carried out to remove or minimise any identified risks for people.

People living in the home, their families and staff did not currently feel able to voice their concerns or make a complaint if needed. They did not feel they were listened to, nor did they feel that appropriate responses and action were taken if concerns were raised directly with the management team.

The service was not currently being well run and communication between the management team and the staff was infrequent and ineffective. Although there were systems in place in order to ensure the quality of the service provided was monitored, the operations manager told us that these were not currently up to date and that a number of areas needed improvement.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. We looked at the care records of people we had been told about, had spoken with or observed during the lunch period. We able to see that care being delivered was in accordance with that recorded in people's care plans.

We were provided with the menu for the day of our inspection. We found that a choice was available for each meal and aids to assist people with eating were being used when required. The home monitored people to ensure they were sufficiently hydrated.

The proprietor ensured that prospective employees were vetted and were suitable for their role.

People we spoke with explained how they had been involved in making their own decision to choose to live at Shipbourne House as well as in the planning of the care and support they required. People were regularly asked what they would like to do throughout the day and staff supported their independence.

Care plans were comprehensive and had person-centred information regarding physical, health and mental needs. Individual risk assessments were complete and regularly reviewed. The care and support delivered by the care staff reflected what was stated in people's care plans.

We saw that the premises and environment were safe and clean. We observed health and safety information, and the staff we spoke with could explain how to reduce the risk of infection.

During the visit we observed staff speaking with people in a caring and respectful manner. Staff were well supported and there was a clear training and education schedule in place to ensure staff were able to meet the needs of people using the service.

This home had various methods that were used to ensure the quality of the service provision was assessed and monitored. These included meetings, reviews, surveys and audits. The records for these were available.