We spoke with three people who lived at the home and two relatives. The provider, manager, deputy manager and two members of staff spent some time with us during our inspection. This included nursing and care staff who told us about people's care and life at the home.The manager of Wayside Care Home was in the process of submitting an application for registered manager status to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider.
We observed the care and support that people received to meet their different needs over the course of the day. We also looked at a sample of care plans for three people who lived at the home and various management records. These records were used to review, monitor and record the improvements made to the quality of care and support that people received.
We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask:
' Is the service safe?
' Is the service effective?
' Is the service caring?
' Is the service responsive?
' Is the service well led?
This is a summary of what we found.
Is the service safe?
People who lived at the home and their relatives told us that they felt safe and staff responded to their needs with minimum delays. One person told us, 'I feel safe and comfortable here' and a relative said, 'Absolutely safe, no concerns about how staff treat her.'
There was a focus on people's safety and we saw that staff assessed, identified and had taken action to reduce risks so that people were protected as much as possible from harm. This included the improvements that had been made to medicine arrangements and practices so that people received their medicine in the right way and the right time as prescribed.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs) which applies to care homes. We found that there were proper policies and procedures in place. We saw that consideration of the Mental Capacity Act was evidenced in care plans where people gave their consent to their care and treatment. We also found that the manager and staff were aware when levels of intervention or supervision may represent a deprivation of a person's liberty.
Staff personnel records showed the manager had carried out checks before staff started work at the home to ensure they were fit to work in health and social care.
Is the service effective?
People told us they were happy with the care they received and that their needs were met by staff. One person told us, 'They (the staff) always help me when I need it. What more could I ask for, I am happy here.'
Each person had a range of care plans in place that provided information about how people preferred their care and support. The plans also included information about people's health needs and interests. One relative told us, 'Staff are committed and my dad gets the continuity of care that he needs.'
When we spoke with staff they were able to tell us the care and support people needed which showed they understood their needs.
We saw that staff had the most up to date information about people's needs. This included daily handovers that supported staff to deliver effective and consistent care and treatment to people.
Is the service caring?
People, who lived at the home and relatives that we spoke with, told us that they thought staff were very caring and respected people's privacy. During the day we saw staff treated people in a kind and caring way. One relative told us, 'They (the staff) are kind and always respectful when they talk to you.'
People were supported by kind and attentive staff. We saw that staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and to make their own decisions. One member of staff told us, 'We try to keep people as independent as they can be and do as much for themselves as they possibly can.'
Is the service responsive?
Staff worked in partnership with other professionals that supported people to receive appropriate care, treatment and support to meet their different health and social care needs.
We found that each person's needs were regularly reviewed with care plans updated if needed. Records showed that people were supported in line with these plans.
During our inspection we saw that there was evidence of unplanned engagements with people and staff chatting to each other. We also saw people had their nails done if they wished to. The manager was reviewing the planned activities for people to ensure that these continued to be improved upon.
People told us that staff listened to their views and supported them to keep in touch with people who were important to them by way of visits which we saw at the time of our inspection. The manager showed us that they were doing their best to make improvements to people's quality of life.
Is the service well led?
The manager sought the views of the people who lived at the home and their relatives during regular meetings. The manager listened to people and had identified actions they would take to resolve any issues and/or suggestions people made. This helped to support people to receive a good quality service at all times.
Staff told us they were able to speak with the manager about any concerns they had. They felt that the manager was always approachable and supported by them.
The provider had an effective quality assurance system in place and identified actions had led to improvements in the service that people received. The manager carried out a regular programme of audits and checks to make sure the quality of the service was maintained.
Where investigations had been required, for example in response to accidents, incidents or safeguarding concerns, the manager had completed a detailed investigation. This included information such as the actions that had been taken to resolve them.