About the service:

Locharwoods is a residential care home that was providing personal care to 14 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. Situated in a residential area of Formby, close to public transport links, leisure and shopping facilities, it is a two-storey property which is fitted with a passenger lift. All the bedrooms are for single occupancy and most have en-suite facilities. There is a lounge, dining room, small sitting room and conservatory on the ground floor.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us that they felt safe living at the service. Care records provided detailed information around people's individual risks in order for staff to keep them safe from avoidable harm. Person centred care was delivered, giving people choice over their daily routines in line with their preferences.

Staffing levels were appropriately managed and people received care from consistent, regular staff. Enough staff were employed each day to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People and their relatives told us that care was provided in a safe and timely manner.

Recruitment processes were robust. The necessary pre-employment checks were completed and people received care from staff who were suitable to work in adult social care environments.

Processes and systems were in place to ensure people received their medicines on time from trained and competent staff.

The home was clean and hygienic. Health and safety measures were in place to ensure people lived in a safe, well-maintained environment.

People's overall health and well-being was effectively assessed and managed. Referrals were made to external healthcare professionals accordingly.

People made positive comments about the quality and standard of food they received. Menus offered choice and a variety of home-made and fresh meals each day.

People were supported in a kind, caring and compassionate manner. Staff were familiar with the support needs of the people they were supporting.

The registered provider had a complaints policy in place. People and relatives knew how to make a complaint if they needed to. However, no-one had made a complaint for some time.

People were encouraged to participate in a variety of different activities. We received positive feedback about the activities that were planned.

We received positive feedback about the overall management of the service and the quality of care people received.

More information is in Detailed Findings below

Rating at last inspection:

Good (Report published 19 October 2016)

Why we inspected:

This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the ratings at the last inspection. It is CQC methodology to re-inspect 'Good' providers within a 30 month timescale.

Follow up:

No concerns were raised within this inspection. We will therefore aim to re-inspect this service within 30 months. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

The inspection visit took place on 7 September 2016 and was unannounced.

Locharwoods Care Home is situated in a residential area of Formby, located close to public transport links, leisure and shopping facilities, Larcharwoods provides accommodation and personal care for up to 18 older people. It is a two storey property which is fitted with a passenger lift. All the bedrooms are for single occupancy and most have en-suite facilities. There is a lounge, dining room, small sitting room and conservatory on the ground floor. At the time of the inspection 18 people lived at the home.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

At the last inspection in 03 January 2014 we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations inspected.

At this inspection we found the registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take appropriate action when required. Staff had received safeguarding adults training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care.

We found recruitment checks were carried out to ensure suitable people were employed to work at the home and there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. This was confirmed by talking with staff members and looking at records of staff recruitment.

Staff received training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs. One person who lived at the home said, “I have confidence in all the staff because they know what they are doing. I need help to get around my walking is not good and the staff know what they are doing.”

The registered manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people who lived at the home. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care and support people required.

Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported. People who received support or where appropriate their relatives were involved in decisions and consented to their care.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. People told us they received their medicines at the times they needed them.

During the inspection visit we observed regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration. We observed the lunch time meal which was relaxed and organised. People who required support to eat their meals were supported by staff who were caring and patient. This was confirmed by talking with people who lived at the home. The cook had information about people’s dietary needs and these were met. One person who lived at the home said about the quality of food, “Lovely homemade food we have good cooks.”

We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. On the day of our inspection visit one person was attending an outpatients appointment.

People who used the service and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint. The complaints procedure was available and people said they were encouraged to raise concerns. Where people had expressed concerns appropriate action had been quickly taken.

The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quali

This inspection was to follow up on a previous inspection in November 2013. At that time the home had failed to meet the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973, with respect to the storage of controlled drugs, in a manner to maintain the safety of people living in the service.

Prior to the inspection we were sent evidence to show that the storage of the controlled drugs was being changed. This inspection was to check on progress and improvements made.

We looked at how controlled drugs were stored and found they were now stored safely and securely.

As part of our inspection we spent time with people and invited them to share with us their views and experience of living at Locharwoods. The people we spoke with were very positive about the care and support they received. One person told us, “The staff here are very good.” Another person said, “The food is very nice. There’s always something I like.”

People told us the menu and food was good. People with specific nutritional needs were receiving a diet which met their assessed needs.

We observed some interaction between staff and people receiving a service to be positive, with staff being supportive, sensitive and encouraging in a non-patronising manner.

We looked the medication procedures, in order to assess if medicines were correctly and safely administered. We found controlled drugs were not correctly stored according to the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973.

We carried out a tour of the home to assess if it was safe, hygienic and comfortable for the people living there and for the members of staff working there. Effective arrangements were in place for monitoring the safety and suitability of the building.

We spoke to three people who used the service. They all said that they were getting the care and support they needed. They said staff were friendly and caring. They said staff respected their wishes and feelings and treated them with dignity. They said that their requests and preferences were listened to and acted upon. Some comments made were:-

“ I’m very impressed by the service. The staff are very nice. The food is good. Staff keep you entertained if you want to be.”

“ I like it here. I like the staff, they are very good.”

“ I don’t have to worry about anything here. The staff are there when you need them. I have a nice bedroom. The food is very good. “

The people spoken with knew how they could make their views known if they were not happy with the service provided.

We spoke to three relatives during our visit. All were very complimentary about the service. They said that a good standard of care was provided. They said the staff kept them informed and that the staff were caring, considerate and helpful. Some comments made were:-

“The staff are lovely. They are patient, kind and caring. There are always staff around when we visit. I’m kept up to date about my relatives needs.”

“Our relative always looks well cared for and gets the health care support they need.”

“We like the home very much. We like the staff, we had a fabulous birthday party here.”

We asked Sefton LINk and Sefton Council for information about how the service operated. No up to date information was available.

We spoke with five people who lived in the home about their experiences. They spoke positively about the staff saying that they were all “very nice”. People who lived in the service also told us that they made choices about their day to day lives. One person told us, “I could have bacon and eggs for breakfast but prefer to have cereal and toast.”

Relatives spoken with told us that they were happy with the care and support their relatives received. They told us that they were always made to feel “welcome” in the service. One person told us, “My relative always has a smile on their face when we bring them back to this home after visiting us.”

On checking medication management we found that people always received their medicines as prescribed. Records regarding medication followed best practice. However we found that the prescribed controlled drugs were not stored separately in a locked cabinet, as they were required to be.

We observed some examples of where staff supported people well, such as attempting to reassure them. We spoke with some people living in the home during our visit they told us that "I like the staff; they are very, very good.”