Serenita is a care home providing accommodation and support for people living with mental health problems and the effects of alcohol related brain damage. The support is based on a three step enablement programme supporting people to return to the community. The home is registered to accommodate up to 34 people. During our inspection there were 29 people using the service. The home is situated close to the sea front in the town of Weston Super Mare. This inspection took place on 06 April 2016 and was unannounced.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Care plans provided information about how people wished to be supported and staff were aware of people’s individual care needs and preferences. People told us they were involved in their care planning. One of the care plans did not include accurate information. The provider’s audit of the service identified some of the care plans needed updating and the registered manager had an action plan in place to address this.
The service had systems to ensure medicines were administered and stored correctly and securely. Medicines records did not always record people’s allergies. The registered manager told us they would address this.
People and their relatives were happy with support arrangements provided. People told us they felt safe and were treated with respect. Staff interactions with people were positive and caring.
Systems were in place to protect people from harm and abuse and staff knew how to follow them. Risk assessments had been carried out and they contained guidance for staff on protecting people.
There were enough staff available to keep people safe and meet their needs. A recruitment procedure was in place and staff received pre-employment checks before starting work with the service.
Staff received training to understand their role and they completed training to ensure the care and support provided to people was safe. There were some gaps in staff training and the registered manager had plans in place to address this. New members of staff received an induction which included shadowing experienced staff before working independently. Staff received supervision and told us they felt supported.
People were complimentary of the food provided. Where people required specialised diets these were prepared appropriately.
People’s rights were protected because the home followed the principles of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 where people lacked capacity to make decisions for themselves.
There were systems in place to receive feedback from people who use the service and staff. The service had not recently requested feedback from relatives. People and relatives were aware of how to raise concerns and they were confident if they raised concerns these would be responded to.
The registered manager and provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. The service had an action plan in place that identified shortfalls in the service and the required improvements.