3 August 2017
During a routine inspection
St Mary’s Care Home is an established service, which had been previously registered under a different provider. This is a first inspection of a newly registered 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place. Risks to people were identified and plans were put in place to help manage the risk and minimise them occurring. Medicines were managed safely with an effective system in place. Staff competencies, around administering medication, were regularly checked. Appropriate checks of the building and maintenance systems were undertaken to ensure health and safety was maintained.
People and relatives told us there were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of people who used the service. We found that safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. This included obtaining references from previous employers to show staff employed were safe to work with people.
People were supported by a team of staff who were knowledgeable about people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. A training plan was in place and the manager monitored this to make sure all staff were up to date with their training.
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 able to choose meals of their choice and staff supported people to maintain their health and attend routine health care appointments.
Care plans detailed people’s needs and preferences. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they contained up to date information that was meeting people’s care needs. People and relatives were actively involved in care planning and decision making. People who used the service had access to a range of activities and leisure opportunities. The service had a clear process for handling complaints.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and felt supported by the manager. Quality assurance processes were in place and regularly carried out by the manager and provider, to monitor and improve the quality of the service. The service worked with various health and social care agencies and sought professional advice to ensure individual needs were being met.