The inspection took place on 20 February 2016 and was unannounced. At our previous inspection in June 2014 we found that the provider was meeting the regulations in relation to the outcomes we inspected.Elms House is a long established care home in Clitheroe that is registered to provide accommodation, personal care and support for up to six people with learning disabilities.
The home has 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.
The manager was available for part of the inspection and engaged positively with the inspection process. The manager was friendly and approachable; she operated an open door policy for people using the service, staff and visitors.
We found that care was provided by a long term staff group in an environment which was friendly and homely.
People told us they felt safe at Elms House. They told us it was like living with a family and we saw people were settled, relaxed and comfortable living there. The relationships we saw were caring, respectful and dignified and the atmosphere was one of calm and comfort.
People's consent was gained before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act were met. People’s capacity to make decisions was kept under review and the registered manager was aware of actions that would need to be taken where people had reduced capacity.
Staff members had developed good relationships with people living at the home and care plans clearly identified people’s needs, which ensured people received the care they wanted in the way they preferred.
Staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding people, and people were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. The staff team had seen little change for several years which helped people to receive consistent care from people who knew them well.
People told us they liked the food and had a good choice available to them. People told us that they had been involved in choosing the meals and they were encouraged to make healthy choices.
Medicines were stored and administered safely. Staff had received training in the medicines they were giving to people and the systems were regularly audited to make sure safe practice was maintained.
Each person had a care plan which detailed their choices and preferences in relation to their care. Plans reflected people’s wishes, skills and aspirations as well as areas in which they needed support. People followed an active programme of individual activities. One person told us they enjoyed their daily life so much they “never ever wanted to leave”.
Staff told us they worked well as a team and there were clear lines of authority within the management structure. Staff said the registered manager “knew her stuff” and was very supportive and cared deeply for the staff and the people who lived in the home.
The complaints policy was clearly visible at the entrance to the home and people told us they knew what to do if they ever needed to complain.
The registered manager undertook audits of safety and practice at the home and there were other quality assurance systems such as staff and residents meetings and questionnaires. We saw that the registered manager was in the process of refining the staff rota to ensure staff knew what hours they would be required to work for the month ahead. Records were generally well maintained.
The premises were homely and maintained and adapted where required. People had their own bedrooms which they could personalise as they wished. People told us they were involved in keeping their own rooms clean and tidy.