Archived: Peel Moat

We considered the evidence collected under the outcomes and addressed the following questions: Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. Please read the full report for the evidence supporting our summary.

Is the service safe?

The visiting relatives and staff we spoke with told us that people living at Peel Moat were safe. One visiting relative told us 'If I had any complaints, he [their relative] wouldn't be here'.

We saw that there were effective safeguarding processes in place and staff demonstrated a clear understanding of the action they would take if they witnessed or suspected abuse.

Robust recruitment practices were not in place because sufficient steps were not being taken to ensure employees were of good character and physically and mentally fit for work, before they commenced employment.

Is the service effective?

The people we spoke with made positive comments about the staff and the care people received. One relative told us 'I can't praise staff enough, they're amazing'. A second relative we spoke with told us 'I've got no complaints, when staff approach, he [their relative]smiles'. People told us people received the care they needed, when they needed it, including medical treatment and advice.

Is the service caring?

We spent some time observing the care people received. We saw warm interactions between care staff, people living at the home and visiting relatives. The care we observed was provided in a kind, patient and sensitive way. There was a relaxed and calm atmosphere in the home, and staff and residents appeared to know each other well.

Is the service responsive?

We saw that assessments of people's needs and risks to their health and well-being were completed. People's care plans were written in a person centred way, putting an emphasis on what people could do for themselves and their personal preferences.

Peel Moat staff told us they had a good relationship with local medical professionals and felt confident in referring people to them for advice and treatment. We spoke with a local district nurse who also told us there was a 'good relationship' between the home and the district nurses team and that the home was 'good at communicating' and referred people to them when required.

Is the service well led?

Care staff told us they were provided with adequate information and guidance on how to meet people's needs. People we spoke with told us people received the care they needed and people felt able to raise concerns should they need to.

Although there was an audit system in place to monitor the quality of care people received, there was not a robust system in place to monitor the quality of people's care records and staff records. We also found that there was not an effective system in place to obtain the views of people who used the service.

We carried out this inspection in March 2014 to follow up on the actions taken by the provider to ensure people were receiving safe and appropriate care.

We found that the home had a sociable and welcoming atmosphere. Some of the people we spoke with were able to discuss the arrangements made for their care and support. People told us that they were happy and content and we saw that they were treated with respect. People were asked for their permission when staff wanted to carry out care and enjoyed good relationships with their care staff. One person said "I'm very happy and I have everything I need". One visiting relative said "We wouldn't go anywhere else; we think that everything is fine".

We looked at the personal care files for four of the people who lived at the home and saw that improvements had been made in the way care plans were written. Records showed that each person's health and wellbeing was monitored closely and where appropriate staff had sought medical attention or advice and guidance from the person's health and social care professionals.

We found that improvements had been made in each of the required essential standards including obtaining consent from people receiving care whenever possible and where consent could not be given correct legal processes had been followed to protect people's rights.

Over recent months the registered manager has been away on sick leave. Since our last visit other public bodies have visited the home. It was disappointing to find that improvements had been made in only two areas of concern. There was some evidence of progress in the other areas, but further improvements were needed.

We spoke with a total of 19 people living at the home. We also spoke with visitors and family members and with one visiting Macmillan Nurse. Visitors were very complimentary about the manager's, care and her support staff and spoke very highly of the 'homely atmosphere' of Peel Moat Care Home. Relatives wanted more activities to be provided.

People said 'I'm very happy here. I have everything that I need and the staff are very nice. I have a nice room and the food is very good. I have no complaints."

We spoke with people who used the service and observed care practices for other people who were less able to communicate with us. We saw staff interact with people in an inclusive and engaging way. They offered sensitive support to people who needed help to walk to the bathroom or their bedrooms.

They were in the process of decorating with plans for further development in the near future.

There was good feedback regarding the food. We were told that the meals were home cooked and that there was always something available that people liked to eat. We saw people enjoying their meals in the course of the day. We found that there were areas where improvements were needed. These included care planning, decision making and choice about care and the exercise of individual rights.