This inspection took place on 9 February 2018 and was unannounced.

The Franciscan Convent, Residential Home in Braintree is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The Franciscan Convent Residential Home -Braintree is run by nuns from a Catholic religious order and is part of a larger convent with its own church. The service provides accommodation for up to 12 older people. At the time of our inspection ten people were living there and all the rooms were being used as single occupancy. The service operates over two floors with the communal areas on the ground floor and the bedrooms on the first floor, which are accessed via a lift.

At our last inspection in November 2015 we rated the Franciscan Convent Residential Home -Braintree good overall, but identified a shortfall with the recruitment of staff in that a newly appointed member of staff did not have all the required safety checks in place. At this inspection we found that the recruitment processes had been strengthened and the service remained good.

There was a registered manager in post who has managed the service for a number of years. 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.

Procedures were in place to safeguard people who used the service from the potential risk of abuse. Staff understood the different types of abuse and knew how to report whistleblowing and safeguarding concerns.

The service benefited from being a small service with a stable staff team who knew the people living in the service well. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s individual needs.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were identified and steps taken to minimise the likelihood of injury. Accidents were logged and used to identify learning. The building was well maintained and equipment checked to ensure that it was working effectively. The service was clean and staff were clear about their responsibilities to reduce the likelihood of infection by using personal protective equipment.

Medicines were safely stored and administered as prescribed. Regular checks were undertaken on the management of medicines to ensure that they were being managed safely.

Staff we spoke with had an understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA 2005). Capacity to make specific decisions was recorded in people's care plans. People had maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The registered manager confirmed that they had submitted relevant deprivation of liberty applications to the local authority.

There was an induction and training programme, which supported staff to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff received supervision and appraisals to enable them to provide appropriate care to people.

People enjoyed the food and had choice of what they wanted to eat. Their nutritional and hydration needs were monitored and they were provided with drinks and snacks throughout the day. People received appropriate healthcare support as and when needed from a number of professional services. The service worked together with other organisations to ensure people received coordinated care and support.

People were treated with care, kindness, dignity and respect. Staff had good relationships with those living in the service and their relatives. People were encouraged to be as independent as they could be.

Care plans were in place to guide staff and these were regularly reviewed and updated. People’s needs were mon

The Franciscan Convent Residential Home -Braintree was inspected on 12 November 2015 and the inspection was unannounced. There were ten people living at the service at the home of the inspection.

There was a registered manager but they were on holiday on the day of our inspection and we were assisted by the Deputy 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.

People who lived in the service and their relatives were very happy with the care and the support provided. However we found that recruitment procedures for new staff did not always work effectively and offer protection to people.

Staff were knowledgeable about the signs of abuse, and the actions that they should take should they have a concern. Risks were identified and steps were taken to reduce the likelihood of injury. The buildings of the service were well maintained and people had equipment they needed to promote their independence. The manager and the deputy manager were assessable and there were systems in place to handover information and ensure that staff have the information they needed to meet people’s needs.

Staffing levels enabled staff to spend time with people and ensured that the support that was provided was timely and unrushed.

Medicines were safely stored and administered as prescribed. Staff were knowledgeable about the procedures in place for the administration of medicines.

Staff received induction and training for their role. The majority of staff had worked at the home for some years and we saw that they had received training to update their knowledge and skills.

People enjoyed their food and received a varied choice of nutritional meals. Support was available for those who needed it. People health was monitored and they had good access to health care support.

Staff were motivated and positive about their job. They had good relationships with the people living in the service and their relatives. People felt cared for and that they mattered. Respect and Dignity was inherent in how care was provided.

People’s care needs were assessed and the assessment included a social history and details of their care preferences. Care plans were informative and staff were aware of people’s needs and preferences. Staff recognised the importance of companionship and people were encouraged to maintain interests.

Resident meetings were held regularly and people were encouraged to give feedback. There was a complaints procedure in place.

The service had clear aims and values and staff understood their role in promoting good quality care. People and their relatives told us that the manager was accessible and visible. Quality assurance and governance systems were in place and audits used to drive improvement.

We spoke with five people who all told us they were happy living at The Franciscan Convent and that staff looked after them in a way that they liked. One person told us, "I like everything about the home, everyone knocks before coming into my room which is important to me."

We spoke with three people's relatives, all of whom told us they would recommend the home as a place in which to live.

We saw several examples where staff supported and cared for people in a dignified and respectful way and we found that the service was meeting the personal, emotional and healthcare needs of people who used the service.

We found that medication was being managed safely and that staff were appropriately recruited and inducted into the service. We also found that there was an appropriate and effective system in place to manage complaints.

People told us that they liked living at the Franciscan Convent and that they found the staff to be both caring and professional. We were told that people were supported to follow their individual religious beliefs, which included the opportunity to take daily Holy Communion. People were complimentary about the standard of meals provided and told us that they were given choices and considered the food both flavoursome and interesting.

People told us that they enjoyed the range of activities within the service and also enjoyed celebrating the various events that had occurred within the religious calendar.

People told us that they saw the manager everyday and that they were found to be both attentive and caring. We were told by two people said that if they had a problem they would always speak to the manager about it.