The inspection took place on 14 December 2016 and was unannounced. Montague Nursing Home provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 24 people. At the time of the inspection 22 people were using the service.

The home did not have a registered manager at the time of this inspection; however, the manager had started the process by submitting an application to register with CQC. 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.

We found clinical equipment such as a suction machine had not been checked regularly to ensure that it was clean and ready for use in an emergency. Creams and pumps that were open did not all have the person’s name and dates of opening and expiry written on them. We found Pressure relieving mattresses had not always been accurately set for the person’s weight.

People’s medicines were managed safely by staff that had been trained in the safe administration of medicines.

People felt safe living at Montague Nursing Home. Staff understood how to keep people safe and risks to people's safety and well-being were identified and managed. The home was calm and people's needs were met in a timely manner by sufficient numbers of skilled and experienced staff.

Recruitment processes were robust and helped to ensure that staff employed to deliver care and support for people were of a good character and suitable to meet people`s needs safely. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s individual needs.

Staff received regular one to one supervision from a member of the management team which made them feel supported and valued. People received the support they needed to eat and drink sufficient quantities and their health needs were well catered for with appropriate referrals made to external health professionals when needed.

People and their relatives told us that their family members were kept safe and well cared for when they were being supported by the service. Staff had received training in how to safeguard people from potential abuse and knew how to identify the risks associated with abuse. Potential risks to people’s health and well-being were identified by staff and they knew how to manage these effectively and protect people from harm. Risk assessments were completed to keep people safe.

People and their relatives complimented the staff team for being kind and caring. Staff were knowledgeable about individuals' care and support needs and preferences and people had been involved in the planning of their care where they were able. Visitors to the home were encouraged at any time of the day.

The provider had arrangements to receive feedback from people who used the service, their relatives, external stakeholders and staff members about the services provided. People were confident to raise anything that concerned them with staff or management and were satisfied that they would be listened to.

People told us they felt the staff provided care and support in a way that promoted their dignity and respected their privacy. Staff were knowledgeable about people`s preferred routines and delivered care that was individualised to the person they were supporting.

People and their relatives were positive about the staff and the management of the service. The manager regularly audited the service and any improvements identified were actioned.