Archived: Shaw Side Care Home

Updated 18 January 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was an unannounced inspection and was conducted by one adult social care inspector and an Expert by Experience on the 24 October 2017. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service, specifically working with older people and people living with dementia. Two adult social care inspectors returned on the 25 October 2017 and the inspection was concluded by one adult social care inspector on the 26 October 2017.

We requested and received a provider information return. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help plan the inspection.

Before our inspection visit we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider had made to us. Notifications tell us about any incidents or events that affect people who use the service. We also attended a meeting with the local authority where some information of concern was passed to us mainly around Oldham unit. This included a shortage of staff and safeguarding concerns.

We spoke with eleven people who used the service, eight visitors/relatives, the registered manager, the clinical services manager, area manager, the cook and sixteen care staff members.

During our inspection we observed the support provided by staff in communal areas of the home. We looked at the care records for six people and medicines administration records for ten people who used the service. We also looked at the recruitment, training and supervision records of staff, minutes of meetings and a variety of other records related to the management of the service.

Updated 18 January 2018

Shaw Side Care Home is a care home that provides 24-hour residential and nursing care for up to 150 service users. The home provides accommodation in five separate units or 'houses'. Shaw Side is situated on the outskirts of Shaw and is approximately three miles from Oldham town centre.

The service had a registered manager. 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We saw that staff received an induction when they commenced work. Sufficient training was provided and staff were supported and supervised.

The service used the local authority safeguarding procedures to report any safeguarding concerns. Staff had been trained in safeguarding topics and were aware of their responsibilities to report any possible abuse.

Recruitment procedures were robust and ensured new staff should be safe to work with vulnerable adults.

The administration of medicines was safe. Staff had been trained in the administration of medicines and had up to date policies and procedures to follow.

The home was clean, tidy and did not contain any offensive odours. The environment was maintained at a good level and homely in character.

There were systems in place to prevent the spread of infection. Staff were trained in infection control and provided with the necessary equipment and hand washing facilities. This helped to protect the health and welfare of staff and people who used the service.

Electrical and gas appliances were serviced regularly. Each person had a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) and there was a business plan for any unforeseen emergencies.

People were encouraged to eat and drink to ensure they were hydrated and well fed.

Most staff had been trained in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager and clinical lead nurse were aware of their responsibilities of how to apply for any best interest decisions under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and followed the correct procedures using independent professionals.

New staff received induction training to provide them with the skills to care for people. Supervision sessions gave staff the opportunity to discuss their work and ask for any training they felt necessary.

We observed there were good interactions between staff and people who used the service. People told us staff were kind and caring.

We saw from our observations of staff and records that people who used the service were given choices in many aspects of their lives and helped to remain independent where possible.

We saw that the quality of care plans gave staff sufficient information to look after people accommodated at the care home and they were regularly reviewed. Plans of care contained people’s personal preferences so they could be treated as individuals.

We saw visitors were welcomed into the home and people could see their visitors in private if they wished.

Activities were provided which were suitable to the age and gender of people who used the service.

Audits, quality assurance surveys and meetings helped the service analyse performance to help improve the service.

There was a suitable complaints procedure for people to raise any concerns.

Staff, relatives and people who used the service said the home was well-led and the manager was approachable.