Midhurst Road is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 42 older people. The home is situated in the Foxhill area of Sheffield, close to local amenities and transport links. Accommodation is based over two floors, accessed by a passenger lift. All of the bedrooms are single and have en-suite toilets and showers. Communal lounges and dining rooms are provided. The home has extensive and accessible well maintained gardens and a car park.

There was a manager at the service who was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our last inspection at Midhurst Road took place 26 May 2015. The service was found to be meeting the requirements of the regulations we inspected at that time and overall we rated the service Good.

This inspection took place on 19 September 2017 and was unannounced. This meant the people who lived at Midhurst Road and the staff who worked there did not know we were coming. On the day of our inspection there were 41 people living at Midhurst Road.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at Midhurst Road and spoke very positively about the staff.

Staff were aware of safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if an allegation was made or they suspected abuse.

We found systems were in place to make sure people received their medicines safely.

Staff recruitment procedures ensured people’s safety was promoted.

There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs safely and effectively.

Staff underwent an induction and shadowed experienced staff prior to commencing work. Staff had regular updates to their training and were provided with relevant supervision and appraisal so they had the skills and support they needed to undertake their role.

The service followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Code of practice and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The registered provider’s policies and systems supported this practice.

People had access to a range of health care professionals to help maintain their health.

A varied diet was provided to people which took into account dietary needs and preferences so their health was promoted and choices could be respected. People’s fluid and diet intake was monitored by staff where a risk of dehydration or malnutrition had been identified.

We found the home was clean and well maintained. Bedrooms had been personalised and communal areas were comfortably furnished.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was protected. All the people, relatives and visiting health professionals we spoke with made positive comments about the care provided by staff.

We found people’s care plans and risk assessments were reviewed regularly and in response to any change in needs.

We saw people participated in a range of daily activities both in and outside of the home which were meaningful and promoted independence.

People said they could speak with staff if they had any worries or concerns and they would be listened to.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to.

Staff told us they felt they had a very good team. Staff, people and relatives said the registered manager was approachable and communication was good within the service.

Midhurst Road is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 42 older people. The home is situated in the Foxhill area of Sheffield, close to local amenities and transport links. Accommodation is based over 2 floors, accessed by a passenger lift. All of the bedrooms are single and have ensuite toilets and showers. Communal lounges and dining rooms are provided. The home has a garden and car park.

There was a manager at the service who was registered with CQC. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our last inspection at Midhurst Road Residential Home took place on 2 August 2013. The home was found to be meeting the requirements of the regulations we inspected at that time.

This inspection took place on 29 June 2015 and was unannounced. On the day of our inspection there were 39 people living at Midhurst Road.

People spoken with were positive about their experience of living at Midhurst Road. They told us they felt safe and staff were “kind”. They told us they could talk to staff and if they had any worries or concerns they would be listened to. Comments included, “I am quite satisfied. I spend my day how I want and get help when I need it. I can’t say better than that” and “I have got good friends here, other residents and staff. It’s lovely and I am happy.”

Relatives spoken with had no concerns regarding their loved ones care. They told us staff always kept them up to date with any news and they were always made to feel welcome at Midhurst Road.

Healthcare professionals spoken with also made positive comments. One healthcare professional told us, “Midhurst is the best home I’ve been to. I would recommend it to everyone and anyone.”

We found systems were in place to make sure people received their medicines safely.

Staff recruitment procedures were thorough and ensured people’s safety was promoted.

Staff were provided with relevant induction and training to make sure they had the right skills and knowledge for their role. Staff understood their role and what was expected of them. They were happy in their work, motivated and confident in the way the service was managed. The service followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Code of practice and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This helped to protect the rights of people who may not be able to make important decisions themselves.

People had access to a range of healthcare professionals to help maintain their health. A varied and nutritious diet was provided to people that took into account dietary needs and preferences so their health was promoted and choices could be respected.

People living at the home, and their relatives said they could speak with staff if they had any worries or concerns and they would be listened to.

We saw people participated in a range of daily activities both in and outside of the home which were meaningful and promoted independence.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to. People using the service and their relatives had been asked their opinion via surveys, the results of these had been audited to identify any areas for improvement.

People living at Midhurst Road told us that they were happy and that they were satisfied with the care they received. They told us, "it is excellent here" and "they (staff) can't do enough for you. They are patient and kind.”

During the inspection we were able to observe people's experiences of living in the home. The interactions between people living at the home and staff appeared positive. Staff spoken with knew the people living at the home well. We found that support was offered appropriately to people.

We found that before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the staff acted in accordance with their wishes.

We found that people's care and welfare needs were assessed and each person had a written plan of care that set out their identified needs and the actions required of staff to meet these.

We found that medicines were being obtained, recorded, handled, dispensed and disposed of in a safe way.

The provider had a satisfactory recruitment and selection procedure in place to ensure that staff were appropriately employed.

The provider had an effective complaints system available.

We spoke to ten people that lived at Midhurst Road. They told us that they liked living at the home, and the staff knew them well and supported them in the way they needed. Comments included; “The carers are very good.” “I am well here, I am looked after, and the staff really care.” “ If I have any worries I can talk to staff, but I have no grumbles.” People told us that they felt safe living at Midhurst Road. They said that staff gave them the support they needed in the way that they preferred. All of the people spoken with said that they could speak to staff, and staff listened to them.

Two relatives spoken with told us that they had no concerns regarding their loved ones care. They said that they were always made to feel welcome and could speak to the staff about anything. They told us that staff always kept them updated regarding their loved ones health.