This inspection was carried out on 25 June 2015 and was unannounced. Shaftesbury Rest Home is registered to provide accommodation and care for a maximum of 17 older people living with dementia and other mental health conditions. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people living at the service. At our last inspection there were no concerns identified.
At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in post. 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.
Shaftesbury Rest Home provides communal areas, a lounge/dining room and separate lounge and kitchen on the ground floor. There were bedrooms on the ground floor and first floor; some of these could be used as shared rooms. At the time of the inspection only one of the shared rooms was occupied by two people. There was a well maintained garden/car park area at the rear of the service which people were able to access. There was also an outdoor facility where people were permitted to smoke. The people were able to access the community independently when they wanted to.
The feedback we received from people was positive. The people who used the service spoke highly of the staff and registered manager. Community professionals were complimentary about the service, and reported positive experiences when dealing with Shaftesbury rest home.
The safety of people who used the service was taken seriously and the registered manager and staff were aware of what actions needed to be taken to ensure everyone’s safety. There were systems in place to ensure that risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were identified and addressed. Medicines were managed safely and people received them at appropriate times but medicines weren’t always stored safely at the time of the inspection People who had diabetes had plans in place should their blood sugar levels drop to below their normal range. However there wasn’t a robust recruitment process in place, as gaps were found in the employment history.
The registered manager ensured that staff had a full understanding of people’s care needs and the skills and knowledge to meet them. People received consistent support from the staff, who all knew them well. People felt safe when receiving the care.
People and relatives had positive relationships with the staff members and were confident in the service. People who used the service felt that they were treated with kindness and were treated with dignity and respect at all times.
People received a service which was based on their personal needs and wishes. Changes in their needs were quickly identified and changes were made to their care plans to reflect this.
The service showed flexibility and responded positively to people’s request. People who used the service were able to make requests and express their views. The manager used the feedback as an opportunity to make changes and improve the service.
The manager demonstrated a good understanding of the importance of effective quality assurance systems. There was a process in place to monitor quality and to understand the experiences who use the service. The manager demonstrated a desire to learn and implement best practice throughout the service.
Staff were motivated and proud of the service. They described a ‘supportive’ and ‘open’ working environment within which they were encouraged to develop their skills and share any concerns and their opinions.