We carried out this inspection on 18 August 2015 and this was an unannounced inspection. During a previous inspection of this service in November 2013 there were no breaches of the legal requirements identified.
Cholwell House Nursing Home is registered to provide personal and nursing care for a maximum of 51 people. At the time of the inspection there were 38 people living in the home. The home provides care to people living with dementia.
A registered manager was in post at the time of our inspection. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People and their relatives said they felt the service was safe. Staff received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to report actual or suspected abuse. The service ensured there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s assessed needs and safe recruitment procedures were completed.
People’s risks were assessed and risk management guidance was recorded where appropriate. People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment and the equipment used to support people was regularly serviced to ensure it was safe. People’s medicines were managed safely and a regular review of incidents and accidents was completed.
People and their relatives said the staff at the service provided effective care. The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities in regard to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS is a framework to approve the deprivation of liberty for a person when they lack the mental capacity to consent to treatment or care and need protecting from harm. Staff were aware of how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 impacted on their work and demonstrated how they empowered people through choice.
Staff at the service received regular training to meet the needs of people at the service. With the support of the provider, staff told us they were able to obtain additional qualifications and comprehensive training in delivering care for people living with dementia was given to staff. Staff were also supported through performance supervision and appraisal.
People at the service were supported as required with food and drink and staff were observed supporting people where required.
People and their relatives gave very positive feedback about all aspects of the care they received at the service. The services compliments log also contained similar positive information. The staff we spoke with knew people well and we made observations that showed people were relaxed in the company of staff. We observed that people’s privacy and dignity was respected and people’s visitors were welcomed to the service.
People and their relatives told us the service was responsive to their needs. Care records contained personalised information and care was delivered in line with people’s needs. Staff understood how to be responsive to people’s needs and the service provided activities for people to partake in. The views of people’s relatives were sought and where required the registered manager had actioned requests. The service had a complaints process which people and their relatives felt they could use and would be listened to.
People, their relatives and staff spoke very positively about the registered manager and the leadership of the service. Staff told of receiving a high level of support and guidance from the registered manager and spoke of a strong team bond within the staff team. The service had achieved and sustained a high level of accreditation in end of life care and had been recommended by the awarding body as a finalist in the ’Care Home of the Year’ awards 2014.
The registered manager had established good links with the local community, and relatives of the people had passed away at Cholwell House Nursing Home were invited annually to a service of remembrance. There were innovative methods to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.