14 January 2016
During a routine inspection
This is the services first inspection since it’s registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 4 November 2015.
The registered provider was an individual who also managed the home on a day to day basis. Registered providers 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.
Ullswater House is a care home registered to accommodate up to two adults. The home is a large mid terraced property. It is run as an ordinary domestic household. People lived with the owners and their family and shared the communal facilities. The house is close to all local amenities. At the time of our inspection visit there were two people who lived at the home.
The carers in the home were the registered provider and her family. The registered provider was the main carer. The service did not employ any staff. Both people who lived in the home were independent and could attend to their own care needs with minimum supervision.
Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. Both people told us they felt safe and their rights and dignity were respected. One person said, “I love it here because I am happy. Everyone is good to me and I feel really safe.”
We looked at the care records for both people. There was information in place about the support needs for each person and how these were being met.
We found both people were having their healthcare needs met. They told us they had access to their doctor’s when they needed to see them.
We found medication procedures in place at the home were safe. Medicines were safely kept and appropriate arrangements for storing were in place. People told us they received their medicines at the times they needed them.
The home was well maintained and clean and hygienic when we visited. The people we spoke with said they were happy with the standard of accommodation provided.
People were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. Regular snacks and drinks were available to them between meals to ensure they received adequate nutrition and hydration. One person said, “The kettle is never cold, we have lot’s of drinks.”
The registered provider understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.
People had freedom of movement around the building. They were involved in decision making about their personal care needs and the running of the home. We saw no restrictions on people’s liberty during our visit.
There was no formal internal quality assurance in place but informal checks were made routinely. Everyone talked together frequently to discuss any plans or changes. Decisions were made as a family group.