Aarandale Lodge is a residential care home for up to 20 older people, some of who live with dementia. There is a lift to bedrooms on the first floor and the communal rooms are situated on the ground floor. There is also safe access to communal garden areas.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good as Aarandale Lodge met all relevant fundamental standards of care.

The service was safe. Staff and management recognised serious safeguarding concerns and responded immediately and appropriately to keep people safe. People’s individual needs were assessed, risks were identified and minimised with effective care plans in place. Robust recruitment procedures ensured staff suitability for their role and the home manager made certain that staffing levels were sufficient by monitoring people’s dependency levels. Medicines were stored, administered and managed safely.

The service was effective. Staff had adequate training to ensure people were supported and their needs were effectively met. The home manager and staff understood how to support people to have maximum choice and control of their lives. People were supported in the least restrictive way possible; the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were adhered to. People’s specific dietary requirements were provided effectively and health care professionals were liaised with in order to manage people’s change in health needs.

The service was caring. Staff were friendly and kind towards people living in a homely environment. Staff understood people and their personal preferences. People told us they felt their privacy and dignity was respected. People’s end of life of life wishes were acknowledged to support people and relatives effectively.

The service was responsive. Care and support was planned with the involvement of people and their relatives. People were provided activities that they could take part in as much or as little as they wanted to. Complaints procedures were in place and made readily available to people.

The service was well led. People’s views of the quality of the service were encouraged by the home manager. Staff felt supported by the home manager to provide a good service to people and further develop their knowledge and skills. The home manager had a visible presence within the service and people, relatives and staff used the open door policy effectively.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The inspection took place on 20 January 2015. Aarandale Lodge is a privately run care home for up to 20 older people who require support and personal care and may have care needs associated with dementia. At the time of our inspection 20 people were living at the service.

The service had an established 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.

People felt safe. The provider had taken steps to identify the possibility of abuse happening through ensuring staff had a good understanding of the issues and had access to information and training.

The service ensured that people were cared for as safely as possible through assessing risk and having plans in place for managing people’s care.

People were treated with kindness and respect by a sufficient number of staff who were available to them when they needed support. People and their friends and families were very happy with the care that was provided at the service.

Staff demonstrated knowledge and skills in carrying out their role. Staff were properly recruited before they started work at the service to ensure their suitability for the role. They received initial and ongoing training and support to help ensure that they had the right skills to support people effectively.

People’s were supported with their medication in a way that met their needs. There were safe systems in place for receiving, administering and disposing of medicines.

Staff interacted with people in a caring, respectful and professional manner. Where people were not always able to express their needs verbally we saw that staff responded to their non-verbal requests and had an understanding of their individual care and support needs.

CQC monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and reports on what we find. DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005. These safeguards protect the rights of adults by ensuring that if there are restrictions on their freedom and liberty these are assessed by appropriately trained professionals. We found that the manager had knowledge of the MCA 2005 and DoLS legislation. They knew how to make a referral for an authorisation so that people’s rights would be protected. People’s rights and choices were respected.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. People told us they liked the food and were provided with a variety of meals.

People’s care needs were assessed and planned for. Care plans and risk assessments were in place so that staff would have information and understand how to care for people safely and in ways that they preferred. People’s healthcare needs were monitored, and assistance was sought from other professionals so that they were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People had opportunities to participate in activities to suit their individual needs and interests. Care tasks were carried out in ways that respected people’s privacy and dignity.

Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. People’s views were sought and audits carried out on a regular basis to identify improvements needed.

When we visited Aarandale Lodge we found that most people using the service were able to give valid consent to their care and treatment. The provider had systems in place to monitor and review people's ability to consent and where applicable relatives had been consulted.

We found that the care provided to people who used the service met their needs. Care plans we viewed contained personalised information about each person's health requirements and covered their likes and dislikes across a range of preferences.

One service user said, "I am really happy here. They look after me well and I have no complaints whatsoever. The food is very good too and I feel safe here." A relation we spoke with was very complimentary about the care given to their relative. They said, "My relative has improved considerably since living here. They are always clean and seem very happy in themselves. When we go out for a meal they can't wait to get back here."

The provider had systems in place to keep people safe from a health care associated infection. Food hygiene was maintained to a good standard and the home was clean and tidy.

We found that the provider employed sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff. One service user said, "There are enough staff here and I don't wait long if I need help with anything. They are all very kind and caring." A member of staff we spoke with said, "I think there are enough staff here and the training is very good."

People we spoke with were happy with the care they received at Aarandale Lodge. They stated they had been involved in organising their care and received the care they needed.

Staff were observed speaking with people with dignity and respect and involving them in their care. People appeared relaxed and staff were viewed helping them to make choices on how they wanted their care provided. During our visit at no time were people seen waiting for staff to support them.

People we spoke with were complimentary about the care they received at Aarandale Lodge and the staff. There were lots of thank you cards and comments included “First Class,” “We are very welcome at all times,” “We find the staff to be very friendly and welcoming” and “We have not complaints about the way our relative is being cared for and have nothing but praise for the staff and management.”

Part of the home’s quality assurance asked whether people felt they had received sufficient information about the home and people had stated “Yes.”

People told us they knew how to raise any concerns they may have. Relatives spoken with stated that they found the manager to be approachable and felt they could take any concerns they may have to her. Staff spoken with also added that they felt that they could raise any concerns they may have with the manager.