4 and 10 November 2015
During a routine inspection
We inspected the service on 4 November and 10 November
April Cottage Retirement Home provides accommodation for up to 12 older people. There were 11 people using the service on the day of our inspection.
There was 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People felt safe within the home. Risks were assessed and managed to protect them from harm.
Staff had received training to meet the needs of the people who used the service. People received their medicines as required and medicines were managed and administered safely.
People’s independence was promoted and choice making encouraged. People remained part of the wider community if they wished to and links with people important to them were maintained.
Most people had the capacity to make decisions about their care and the support they received. These people were involved and their opinions sort and respected. Where people required support to make decisions, the service did not follow the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager and staff team were unclear of their role in ensuring best interest decisions were made for people.
The registered manager had assessed the care needs of people using the service. Staff had a clear understanding of their role and how to support people who used the service as individuals. Where people had more complex needs these were not always being met.
Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness and compassion. People enjoyed the meals provided and where they had dietary requirements, these were met. People were offered adequate drinks to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Systems were in place to monitor the health and wellbeing of people who used the service.
People’s health needs were met and when necessary, outside health professionals were contacted for support.
Staff felt supported by the registered manager. The registered manager supervised staff and regularly checked their competency to carry out their role. People who used the service felt they could talk to the registered manager and had faith that they would address issues if required. Relatives found the registered manager to be approachable.