We undertook an inspection of 30 Primrose Avenue on the 14 May 2014. We spoke with the two people using the service, the residential manager and one of the support staff members during our visit.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?
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, their relatives; the staff supporting them and from looking at records.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
The home only opened in July 2013 and was very well appointed and maintained throughout.
Training records highlighted that staff were up to date with all mandatory training needed to support people living at the home.
The residential manager advised us that appropriate procedures, including review were in place should anyone need to be subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) application or plan. DoLS is part of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and aims to ensure people in care homes and hospitals are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom unless it is in their best interests.
Is the service effective?
The people using the service who were able to tell us said that they were happy living in the home and that they were being well supported by the staff members working there.
The staff members we spoke with could show that they had a good understanding of the people they were supporting and they were able to meet their various needs.
Is the service caring?
We observed that staff interacted well with the people living in the home and the relationships we saw were warm, respectful, dignified and with plenty of smiles and laughter.
The two staff members said that they felt supported to do their job and had received regular formal supervision. (These are regular meetings between an employee and their line manager to discuss any issues that may affect the staff member; this would include a discussion of ongoing training needs).
Is the service responsive?
The care plans had been written in a person centred manner. This meant that the individualised care plans focused on the person's individual assessed needs and on how they could be met. The care plans focused on providing support to an individual in different aspects of their daily life, for example how the person was to be supported with promoting their independence and any issues regarding their health so that they were kept as healthy as possible. We asked the people using the service if they were involved in planning their support and they both said that they were.
Is the service well-led?
The staff members we spoke to said that the home was well managed and they enjoyed working there.
We saw that the provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.