We inspected the home on 13 and 14 September 2016. This was an unannounced inspection.

Barnby Court Care Home is located in a village near Retford in Nottinghamshire. The home provides accommodation, respite and personal care for up to 25 older people, some of whom are living with dementia.

The home had a registered manager at the time of our 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, and their relatives, were supported by staff to keep safe. People were protected from the risk of abuse as management and staff understood their role in keeping people safe from harm.

We found that individual risk assessments were in place for specific aspects of people’s care. People’s care plans contained clear guidance for staff about how to keep people safe and staff were aware of, and followed the guidance. Checks to equipment and the environment were carried out to ensure people’s safety.

The number of staff matched with the levels determined by the provider as being required to keep people safe. People told us, and we observed that people had their needs met in a timely way.

People were happy with the support they received with their medicines. We saw that the management of medicines was safe and that action had been taken to improve the recording of medicines administration.

People were supported by staff who had received training and were supported by the management team to ensure they could perform their roles and responsibilities effectively.

People were encouraged to make independent decisions and legislation to protect people who lacked capacity was being adhered to. Staff told us about how they supported people to make choices and decisions and people had not been deprived of their liberty without the required authorisation being applied for.

People were protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and specialist diets were provided if needed. Referrals were made to health care professionals for additional support or guidance if people’s health changed.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their choices and preferences were respected. We saw staff were kind and caring when supporting people. People and their relatives contributed to the planning and review of their care as appropriate.

Improvements were required to ensure people were supported to maintain their interests and were given opportunities to engage in activities. We observed a lack of engagement and stimulation at times and it was not always clearly recorded that people’s needs were being met at the required intervals.

People and their relatives were provided with opportunities to raise issues with the management team and complaints were dealt with appropriately.

Management systems were effective in monitoring the quality of service provision and responding to any issues. People felt that the registered manager was visible and approachable and records confirmed that the feedback of people, their relatives and staff were sought to drive improvements at the service.

During this inspection there were twenty people using the service. We spoke directly with two people who used the service and with two relatives. We also spoke with two care staff, the housekeeper, activities co-ordinator, the cook, the deputy manager and the registered manager.

We saw evidence that people were consulted before receiving care. One of the people who used the service told us, “They (staff) always talk to me and discuss things with me.” A relative we spoke with told us, “They (staff) talk to my family member about their care and treat them with respect.”

People were protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and dehydration. A person who used the service told us, "The food is very good, we have a wide variety."

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. A relative of a person who used the service told us, "There are enough staff, even at meal times they seem able to help people."

We saw that records relevant to the management of the service were well maintained and reflected the needs of people who used the service.

As part of our inspection we spoke with a number of people who used the service and their relatives, care staff and health and social care professionals visiting. On the day of our visit there were 24 people at Barnby Court Care Home.

All the people we spoke with told us the home was very nice, they said they felt safe and they were given support to make choices and decisions about the care they received.

One person told us, “You get everything you want, you just have to ask.” and “Honest and truly everybody is good I can’t fault anyone.”

Another person who had not been at Barnby Court Care Home for long said the staff were all very friendly and the food was good and plentiful.

Someone else told us, “I definitely feel safe I know I can talk to the staff if I have any concerns.” and “I love it here.”

We spoke with some relatives and friends, who told us the communication was very good with the home and the staff were friendly and welcoming.

One person said, “There is open visiting times which I like, I have always seen good interaction from the staff.”

Another person told us, “The staff are always accommodating I can’t speak highly enough of the home.”

We spoke with a rapid response nurse and a GP who were visiting the home on the day of our visit. Both told us on the occasions they had visited they found the staff friendly and knowledgeable and the manager organised and responsive.

We also met a social worker who was visiting. They told us the manager was very approachable and people received good quality care.