About the service: Hopton Cottage Care Home is a purpose-built care home, predominantly ground floor, with 62 bedrooms. It provides accommodation and personal care to those over 65, some of whom may be living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ Without exception, people and their relatives told us they were in receipt of care that was responsive to their diverse needs and individual preferences.

¿ The staff team implemented an extensive program of varied and innovative activities that incorporated the use of new technology and worked in collaboration with academic research. For example, an intergenerational program, daily fun evening exercise to reduce anxiety, social isolation and build stamina, talking electronic tablets to support communication and choice, sensory areas, outings and individualised Valentines day meals for residents and their partners. Activities were highly responsive to people’s emotional, sensory and physical needs and were evaluated to ensure positive outcomes.

¿ People told us they knew what to do if they had any concerns or complaints about the service and the management team had resolved them. The directors used learning from complaints to improve future practice.

¿ People told us they felt safe with staff from Hopton Cottage Care Home. Staff had a good understanding of how to safeguard adults from abuse.

¿ Staff were aware of their responsibilities if they were concerned a person was at risk of harm. Care files contained detailed individual risk assessments to reduce risks to people’s safety and welfare.

¿ People, relatives and community professionals told us there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. The service was actively recruiting to staff vacancies within the team and agency staff were occasionally used. Staff recruitment was safe.

¿ A system was in place to ensure medicines were managed in a safe way for people. Staff were trained and supported to ensure they were competent to administer medicines.

¿ People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. We saw evidence people had given their consent to the care and support they were receiving. Some mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were in place, however not all best interest discussions had been recorded. We made a recommendation about this.

¿ New staff were supported in their role, which included training and shadowing a more experienced staff member. We saw evidence staff had received regular on-going training in a variety of subjects. Staff received supervision and observations of their performance.

¿ People told us they enjoyed their meals and we saw people received support with meals and drinks. Staff knew how to access relevant healthcare professionals if their input was required. The service worked in partnership with other organisations and healthcare professionals to improve people’s outcomes.

¿ People told us staff were caring and supported them in a way that considered their dignity, privacy and diverse needs. People were supported to be as independent as possible throughout their daily lives.

¿ People told us they thought the service was well led. We found there was a desire to improve systems and to provide person centred care using academic research and best practice initiatives.

¿ The registered provider had an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. The directors planned to implement a new electronic records system, which would also improve oversight of staff responses to call bells. They sent us evidence this was completed following our inspection.

¿ People who used the service, staff and relatives were asked for their views about the service and these were acted on.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated go

The inspection of Hopton Cottage Care Home took place on 22 June and 1 July 2016. The home was last inspected during January 2014 and was compliant in the areas inspected. This was the first inspection of the home under the current provider. The registered manager was taking leave and not available to speak with us in person on the first day of our inspection. We therefore met with the care manager. On the second day of our inspection we spoke with the registered manager.

Hopton Cottage Care Home is a purpose built care home which provides accommodation for up to 60 people who require personal care. Accommodation is provided across three different units. One unit is for people who do not have any specific mental health needs such as dementia, one is for people with mild memory problems and one is specifically for people with a diagnosis of dementia. Of the 60 rooms, 50 are at ground floor level. Every ground floor room has access to a private patio garden through patio doors. At the time of our inspection there were 59 people living at the home.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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 told us they felt safe living at the home and appropriate procedures were in place to help keep people safe. Risk assessments had been completed and measures taken to reduce risks. The building was well maintained and regular safety checks took place.

Medicines were managed and stored in a safe way and staff who were responsible for administering medicines had received training to do so safely and their competency had been assessed.

Appropriate recruitment procedures were followed and staff had received necessary training to enable them to provide effective care and support to people. Staff were aware of people’s individual care needs.

Consent to care was sought from people and staff acted in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The design and layout of the home was appropriate to meet people’s needs and the home was fresh and clean.

People and their relatives told us staff were caring. We observed a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere in the home and people’s privacy and dignity were respected.

Care and support was provided in a person centred manner. Care needs were regularly reviewed and people were involved in their care planning. People told us they could make their own choices.

The home was well led by a management team that communicated their aims and visions to people who lived at the home and to staff. Staff were motivated to provide good care to people.

Regular staff meetings and resident meetings were held and the registered manager sought feedback from people.

Audits took place regularly and action plans were developed and acted upon to improve the service.