The inspection of the Manse Residential Home took place on 19 October 2015 and was unannounced. The home had previously been inspected in October 2013 and was found to be meeting all the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
The Manse is a residential home in Knottingley; close to Castleford and Pontefract. It is registered to provide care for up to 18 older people, both male and female aged 55 and over. Some people may be living with dementia.
The home has accommodation over two floors. There are two lounges and a dining room for communal use and a garden to the rear of the building. However, on the day of our inspection there was extensive refurbishment being carried out by the registered provider who was extending the building to include five more bedrooms with en-suite facilities. This meant that access to the garden and second lounge was not possible. The building was also having many windows replaced.
There was a registered manager in post on the day of inspection. 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 told us they felt safe and this was endorsed by visiting relatives and a health professional who knew the home well. Staff displayed a detailed knowledge of how to identify any safeguarding concerns and knew the process of reporting such concerns. Medicines were administered, recorded and stored in line with current guidelines.
Risk was managed through person-centred assessments which were linked if there were related issues such as moving and handling and falls. However, we found that not all assessments had the method of minimising the risk detailed on them and the registered manager agreed to look at these.
Staffing levels were appropriate to people’s needs although we acknowledged that staff felt under pressure at times. Staff did visit people who preferred to remain in their rooms at periodic intervals as well and we were aware the home had plans in place for extra staff.
People were supported with their nutritional needs and encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible. Staff had received all necessary training and it was evident through their interactions with people in the home that they had the knowledge and skills to support people effectively.
The home had followed all the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, ensuring that where people lacked capacity to make more difficult decisions they were in their best interests while supporting people to make as many choices as possible for themselves.
Staff were very caring and attentive to people’s needs throughout the day, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of people’s strengths and where support was needed. They pre-empted people’s needs and ensured a high level of interaction.
Care records were detailed and person-centred reflecting the ethos of the home and complaints were handled in a thorough and timely manner. Activities were a little constrained by the environmental restrictions but people did engage and enjoyed the music.
The home was well led by a registered manager who had supported staff to endorse the home as being in existence solely for the people living there. This was evidenced through excellent leadership shown in staff support, robust and considered audit systems and a transparency of approach encouraging people or staff to raise any concerns.