Archived: Choice House

This unannounced comprehensive inspection of Edinburgh House took place on the 26 November 2015.

At our last inspection of this service on 12 August 2014 a breach of legal requirements was found. This related to the supervision and appraisal of staff. During this inspection we found the provider had followed their action plan, and now met legal requirements by ensuring staff received appropriate support, supervision and appraisal to enable them carry out the duties they were employed to perform.

Edinburgh House is a care home that provides personal care and accommodation for 51 older people. Some people living in the home have dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people living in the home including one person who was receiving respite care.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were treated with respect, and staff engaged with people in a friendly and courteous manner. People told us staff were approachable, listened to them, respected their privacy and were kind. Throughout our visit we observed caring and supportive relationships between staff and people using the service.

People told us they felt safe. Staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported. People’s individual needs and risks were identified, managed and reviewed as part of their plan of care and support. Care plans were personalised and reflected people’s current needs. They contained the information staff needed to provide people with the care they wanted and needed.

People were encouraged and supported to make decisions for themselves whenever possible to maintain and develop their independence. The registered manager had knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [MCA] and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS]. When people did not have the capacity to make a decision in their best interests and safety, DoLS were in place when it was necessary to restrict people’s freedom in some way.

Staff took time to talk with people and people had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities. People were provided with the support they needed to maintain links with their family and friends.

People were supported to maintain good health. They had good access to appropriate healthcare services that monitored their health and provided treatment and advice when people were unwell. People were supported to maintain their mobility. People’s nutritional needs and special dietary requirements were understood and catered for by staff.

Staff were appropriately recruited, trained and supported to provide people with the care they needed. Staff told us they enjoyed working in the home and received the support they needed to carry out their roles and responsibilities.

People knew how to raise concerns and complaints if they needed to. Appropriate action was taken to address issues that were raised. People’s views of the service were sought and responded to appropriately.

There were systems in place to regularly assess, monitor and improve the quality of the services provided for people.