22 February 2012
During a routine inspection
All people living at the home and visitors spoken with were complimentary of the care and services being provided. Comments included: 'They will do anything for you, they are very good.' 'All the girls work together here. They are all friendly with relatives and with each other.' 'The care is second to none.' A professional visitor told us: 'I have no issues with this home, I think it's one of the best.'
We saw that people looked well cared for and staff were friendly and respectful in their approach to people. People told us that when they came into the home care staff had taken time to explain things about the home to them including information about the social activities that took place. One person told us: 'Very good for me as I lived on my own for 20 years but I don't fall so much here. I am glad to be with people, I have got a new home now.'
People were being asked regularly if they were happy with the services being provided provided which included the social activities. People told us they enjoyed playing bingo, 'knitting club' and the 'garden club'. People were also positive about the food, comments included: 'Great, if there is anything I don't like I ask for soup, there are five choices of sweets.' 'Very nice, very nice'.they come in the morning and ask what you want.'
People told us they would feel at ease to raise any concerns with the manager and we saw that a concern raised with the home about the breakdown of the lift had been appropriately responded to.
People living in the home and their visitors were very positive about the care staff supporting them although they felt sometimes staff were pressured when staff were off sick. Comments we received about the staff included: 'The staff are great you can't fault them. I have never had a cross word with one of them.' 'Very good, very friendly and obliging nothing seems to be too much trouble.' 'occasionally you get blips if someone rings in sick, they struggle a bit then.' 'Not too bad really.' 'They cope but they are short of staff and if anyone rings in sick that's it. Sometimes there are only two to do all floors in the morning and it's a bit of a rush'..'
We saw that the home was clean and there were no unpleasant odours noted during our visit.