Archived: Barn Close Residential Home

Updated 30 December 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 30 September and 3 October 2016 and day one was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed the information we held about the service, such as notifications we had received from the registered provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. In addition we spoke with representatives from adult social care. We planned the inspection using this information.

We spoke with five of the people who used the service and eleven members of staff including the registered manager, carer staff and auxiliary staff. We looked at questionnaires relatives and visiting professionals had completed.

We read four written records of care and other policies and records that related to the service. We looked at two staff files which included supervision, appraisal and induction and examined the training records and quality monitoring documents for the service. We observed staff throughout the inspection and looked around all the communal areas of the home and with people’s permission some bedrooms.

Updated 30 December 2016

This unannounced inspection took place on 30 September and 3 October 2016. We last inspected the service on 18 January 2014, it was meeting the regulations that were in force at that time.

Barn Close Residential Home is owned by The Henry Lonsdale Charitable Trust. The home is situated in a residential area of Carlisle and provides accommodation for up to 37 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 30 people living in the home. Barn Close is a period property that has been adapted and extended.

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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service was very responsive. The registered manager and her team continuously sought to improve and develop the service to ensure people were able to enjoy a wide range of activities based on their likes and preferences, which made a great impact on their lives and wellbeing. The service had a high level of community engagement which included participation in fundraising for both local and national charities. People enjoyed and were able to take part in activities in their local community.

Care plans were person centred and showed that individual preferences were taken into account. Care plans were subject to regular review to ensure they met people’s changing needs. They were easy to read and based on assessment and reflected the needs of people. Risk assessments were carried out and plans were put in place to reduce risks to people’s safety and welfare.

Where people were not able to make important decisions about their lives the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed to protect their rights.

The staff were trained to an appropriate standard and received regular supervision and appraisal. As part of their recruitment process the service carried out background checks on new staff. Staff were aware of how to identify and report abuse. There were policies in place that outlined what to do if staff had concerns about the practice of a colleague.

The service managed medicines appropriately. They were correctly stored, monitored and administered in accordance with the prescription. People were supported to maintain their health and to access health services if needed. People who required support with eating and drinking received it and had their nutrition and hydration support needs regularly assessed.

Staff had developed caring relationships with people and communicated in a kind and professional manner. They were aware of how to treat people with dignity and respect. Policies were in place that outlined expected standards in this area.

There was a complaints procedure in place that outlined how to make a complaint and how long it would take to deal with. People were aware of how to raise a complaint and who to speak to about any concerns they had.

The home was well led by a registered manager who had a clear vision for the future of the service. A quality assurance system was in place that was utilised to improve the service.