OSJCT Ridgeway House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 43 older people some of who are living with dementia. The home is situated on two levels with two communal lounges and a dining area, with a central kitchen and laundry. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people living there and one person staying short term. The inspection took place on the 23 and 24 August 2016. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. At our last inspection of OSJCT Ridgeway House in September 2013 we found the provider met the legal requirements in the areas we looked at.
The service did not have a registered manager employed at the home. 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. A new manager had recently been appointed and was in the process of applying to become the registered manager.
People and relatives spoke positively about the care and support they received. Staff showed concern for people’s well-being in a caring and considerate way, and they responded to their needs quickly.
People were treated with dignity and their right to privacy was respected. Staff knocked on people’s doors before entering and sought people’s permission before undertaking any care tasks. We found staff had a good understanding of people’s needs, interests, likes and dislikes. We observed a range of positive and caring interactions during our inspection, with people using the service not hesitating to seek assistance where required and sharing jokes with staff.
People spoke positively about the food choices and were supported to have sufficient food and fluids. People were offered a choice at meal times and alternatives were available where people did not want what was on the menu.
People’s medicines were managed safely. Systems in place ensured that people received the medicines as prescribed and at the correct time.
There were systems in place which encouraged people and their relatives to share their views on the service. Complaints were investigated and responded to appropriately. People told us they were regularly consulted about their care and they attended six monthly care review meetings.
Risk assessments were in place to support people to be as independent as possible. Risks to people’s personal safety had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise these risks. Staff displayed a good understanding of how to keep people safe from potential harm or abuse and what actions they would take should they suspect abuse had taken place. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s care and support needs safely.
Safe recruitment practices were followed before new staff were employed to work with people. Checks were made to ensure staff were of good character and suitable for their role. The staff had received appropriate training and supervision to develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide people with the necessary care and support. Staff attended a range of core training as well as training specific to the needs of people using the service, for example dementia awareness. Staff also received refresher training on a regular basis.
We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We found related assessments and decisions had been properly undertaken and the provider had followed the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
The provider had quality monitoring systems in place. Accidents and incidents were investigated and discussed with staff to minimise the risks or reoccurrence. The management operated an on call system to enable staff to seek advice in an emergency. This showed leadership advice was present 24 hours a day to manage and address any concerns raised.