The inspection took place on 2 August 2016 and was unannounced. This meant the provider did not know we were coming. We last inspected the service in April 2014 and found the service met the regulations we inspected against at the time.Bamford Close provides accommodation for up to 40 people who require personal care, some of whom are living with dementia. There were 40 people living there at the time of our inspection, some of whom could not always communicate their views so we also asked relatives for their views.
The accommodation is single storey and consists of four units which accommodate 10 people each. Each unit has a communal lounge, dining room and kitchen. A large lounge, dining room and activities room is located in the middle of the service.
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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We found the provider had breached Regulations 11, 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because the registered provider had not assessed people in line with the Mental Capacity Act to determine whether Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications should be made. The dates of opening on prescribed creams for topical application had not been noted. The temperature of the clinical fridge was slightly above recommended limits and no action had been taken. The provider did not have effective quality assurance checks in place to monitor the quality of the service and drive improvement. The provider had not identified the areas for improvement we noted during our inspection.
We have made a recommendation about people’s personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) as they did not contain enough detail for staff should they need to support people to be evacuated from the building in an emergency. We have also made a recommendation about accidents and incidents.
People received their routinely prescribed medicines when they needed them. Staff administered medicines in a gentle and supportive manner.
People and relatives told us Bamford Close was a safe place. One person told us, “I’m looked after well so I’m safe.” A relative said, “As far as I am concerned the care here is excellent.”
People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence and to pursue their interests and hobbies. Staff interacted with people in a friendly and respectful way.
Staff training was up to date. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals.
There was a protected meal time for those who required additional support to eat and drink, which meant staff were able to spend undisturbed time supporting people to eat. People were given choices what to eat and meals looked nourishing and hot.
One person told us, “The food is lovely in here. I really enjoy my cooked breakfast.” Another commented, “We get a choice of food, we don’t go away from the table hungry.”
People spoke positively about the staff at Bamford Close. One person told us, “The girls are really lovely and so caring, I am happy to be here.” Another commented, “We are treated like their friends.”
Staff had access to detailed personalised information about people’s needs and preferences. Care records contained guidance about how to support people based on their individual health needs and how they wished to receive their care.
People we spoke with told us if they had a problem or concern they would speak to staff. Relatives we spoke with knew how to make a complaint.
Staff told us they felt the service was well-run by the registered manager and provider. One staff member told us, “[Manager] is really good, they are not just there for the residents but for the staff as well, you can approach them with anything.”
People felt the management team in the service were approachable. One person told us, “We always have a chat on a morning. They are busy but make time to stop and talk.” Another told us, “As soon as I walked in it was lovely, [manager] is lovely and approachable.”