Archived: Byron House Care Home

Byron House is a care home with nursing. It is registered to support older people, some who are living with dementia. People had access to a range of communal seating areas. Accommodation was located over three levels. The home is registered to support a maximum of 28 people. At the time of our inspection 25 people lived at Byron House.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

We received lots of positive comments from people and their relatives about their experience of Byron House. People told the service was exceptionally well-led. Comments included, “[Name of registered manager] is the right person in the right job, she is excellent” and “[Name of registered manager] is a very good manager, she has always got time for you and finds answers and gets back to you.” Other comments included,” “[Name of registered manager] is lovely, she is straight on the ball” and “If there is a problem [Name of registered manager] will come up and see [Family member] immediately.”

The provider and registered manager had systems in place which promoted continuous improvement. The provider had introduced initiatives into the home to promote people’s well-being and ensured care was person centred. They had developed a scheme called ‘Chatterbox’, which was a daily question staff asked each person they had contact with. This promoted meaningful engagement with people and reduced social isolation.

People were protected from abuse and staff had knowledge on recognising potential abuse. Risks posed to people were minimised and staff had managed risks to reduce harm to people.

People were supported by staff who had got to know them well. We observed many kind and compassionate interactions between staff and people. People told us they were treated with dignity and respect. Comments from people included, “She is so very kind to me,” “The carers here are all very friendly” and “They look after me very well.” Other comments included, “The staff and carers are all very friendly, they are lovely ladies,” These positive comments were echoed by relatives. “They go beyond their remit which is nice, they really do care, it is not just a job for them,” “I have been away and I knew she was totally safe and that she was being cared for lovingly” and “I think the staff treat them well.”

People told us Byron House felt like a family home. Comments from people included, “We had visited four other homes but as soon as we walked through the door here we knew this was the one,” “I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else” and “I was looking for a home, that felt like home. I found it here.”

The provider ensured people were cared for by staff who had received a thorough induction and staff were provided with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff told us they felt valued and liked working at the home. Staff told us “[Name of registered manager] puts her heart and soul into it, she takes her job personally.” They went onto say, “I feel supported, her door is always open. We all look after each other, we have a really good team here.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported and encouraged to participate in meaningful activities. The home had developed strong links with the community. Local school children, a mother and toddler group and local church representatives visited the home.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Byron House is a care home for older and younger people, some of whom may have dementia. It is registered to provide accommodation for 28 people who have nursing care needs. At the time of our inspection 15 people lived at Byron House.

Byron House has been registered with the commission since 2014 and has not been inspected previously.

The service did not have a registered manager in post. 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 service is located in a sympathetically renovated building, which was carried out to a high specification. It had successfully created a welcoming homely environment suitable for people who needed nursing care.

The atmosphere was calm, warm and friendly. Staff provided a person centred service that was respectful and promoted individual dignity.

People were protected from harm, as risks were identified and plans to reduce those risks were reviewed regularly. Staff had understanding of different types of abuse and knew what actions to take if a concern was raised.

Robust recruitment processes were undertaken to ensure that only suitable people to work with vulnerable adults were employed.

People had access to a wide range of activities, both within the home and the community. Staff took time to understand people’s likes and dislikes.

Staff were compassionate and caring in their nature, it was clear from observations made people were happy in the company of staff.

The service had not had a registered manager in post since April 2015; however the provider had systems in place to ensure the smooth running of the home. Feedback was gathered from people about their experience of the service and this would be used for service development.