Moorlands Residential Home is a care home for up to 16 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of this inspection there were 14 people living at the home.

At the last inspection of the service in July 2015, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

There were adequate numbers of staff to make sure people felt safe at the home. One person told us, “Knowing there is always someone here when I need them makes me feel safe.” The provider had policies and procedures which helped to minimise the risks of abuse to people. People’s medicines were safely administered by staff who had received appropriate training to carry out the task.

People received effective care and support because staff were well trained and supported. One person commented, “I don’t think it could be any better. The staff are very good and make you comfortable in every way.” 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.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and caring. People’s right to privacy and dignity was upheld and staff respected people’s wishes about how they spent their time. People were involved in decisions about the care and support they received by formal care reviews and informal chats with staff. One person said, “They always ask what you want and fit around you.”

Care and support was responsive to each individual’s wishes and needs. People continued to make choices about all aspects of their day to day lives. One person told us, “It’s up to me what I do. I’m still my own person.” People were able to take part in a range of organised activities or follow their own interests and hobbies. People told us they would be comfortable to make a complaint.

The service was well led by an experienced registered manager and the provider. People described the management of the home as very approachable. One person said, “From day one they have said - if there is anything wrong let us know.” There were regular checks to make sure the building and equipment was safe for people, staff and visitors.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Moorlands Residential Home is a care home for up to 16 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of this inspection there were 14 people living at the home.

At the last inspection of the service in July 2015, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

There were adequate numbers of staff to make sure people felt safe at the home. One person told us, “Knowing there is always someone here when I need them makes me feel safe.” The provider had policies and procedures which helped to minimise the risks of abuse to people. People’s medicines were safely administered by staff who had received appropriate training to carry out the task.

People received effective care and support because staff were well trained and supported. One person commented, “I don’t think it could be any better. The staff are very good and make you comfortable in every way.” 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.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and caring. People’s right to privacy and dignity was upheld and staff respected people’s wishes about how they spent their time. People were involved in decisions about the care and support they received by formal care reviews and informal chats with staff. One person said, “They always ask what you want and fit around you.”

Care and support was responsive to each individual’s wishes and needs. People continued to make choices about all aspects of their day to day lives. One person told us, “It’s up to me what I do. I’m still my own person.” People were able to take part in a range of organised activities or follow their own interests and hobbies. People told us they would be comfortable to make a complaint.

The service was well led by an experienced registered manager and the provider. People described the management of the home as very approachable. One person said, “From day one they have said - if there is anything wrong let us know.” There were regular checks to make sure the building and equipment was safe for people, staff and visitors.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People we spoke with were happy with the care they received at the home. One person told us “I feel very well cared for here. I have nothing to worry about as everything is taken care of.” Another person said “I get all the help I need and certainly have no complaints.”

Each person had a care plan which was personal to them. Care plans that we read gave information about people’s preferences as well as their physical needs. This ensured that staff had information to enable them to provide care in line with people’s wishes and assessed needs.

We observed that staff spoke with people in a kind and friendly manner and assisted people in a way that respected their dignity. All staff we observed appeared cheerful and competent in their roles.

The home had suitable facilities for the safe storage and administration of medication. The home used a monitored dosage system with printed medication administration records. We saw that all medicines were stored securely and there was additional security for controlled drugs.

There was equipment around the home to assist people to maintain independence, and to meet their specialist needs. Equipment was well maintained and regularly checked to ensure its safety.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service offered and ensure the safety of people who lived at the home.

People told us they were able to make choices about their day to day lives. One person told us “It’s all very nice, you can do what you like.” Another person said “I more or less do what I want. My family are able to come and go as they please which makes it very homely.”

People were very happy with the care that they received. One person said “I couldn’t wish for better care.” Another person commented “I feel very well looked after.”

We were told that the home assisted people to make appointments with health and social care professionals from outside the home. We saw records of appointments with health care professionals. This meant that people had access to health care professionals according to their specific needs which ensured that their needs were met.

All areas of the home we saw were clean and fresh which provided a clean and hygienic environment for people. Several people who lived at the home made positive comments about the standard of cleanliness.

People were very complimentary about the staff who supported them. Comments included; “All the staff are nice,” “Staff are helpful and obliging” and “They are helpful, respectful and always polite.”

We noticed that the manager was very visible in the home and very approachable. This meant that they were easily accessible to people who lived at, or visited the home, if anyone wished to make a complaint. One person said “The manager is always about. I would talk with her if I had any worries.”

People living at the home were all very happy with the care that they received. Comments included “I feel very well looked after,” “The staff are beyond marvellous, they are only concerned with you being comfortable” and “You feel relaxed, they always say anything you want just ask.” Relatives spoken with said “We are very satisfied the care and are always consulted.”

People said they were able to choose what time they got up, when they went to bed and how they spent their day. Some people said that they liked to spend time in the communal areas whilst others said they preferred to spend time alone in their rooms. Everyone felt that their privacy was respected.

Generally people spoken with were happy with the food served in the home. Everyone said that they had a choice at each meal. People said that the cook was always happy to make alternatives if they did not like anything on the menu.

People living at the home said that staff who supported them were always kind and polite. Everyone said that if they had any concerns they would be comfortable to speak with a member of staff. All said that they felt that they would be listened to and action would be taken to address their concerns. One person said “They are always happy to listen to your moans,” another person said “If I had a complaint I would go straight to the manager.”

Everyone asked was happy with their bedroom. Rooms seen had been personalised to reflect the needs and tastes of the occupant. One person said “I’ve bought some of my own furniture to make it feel like my home.”

People living at the home were very positive about the staff who supported them with one person saying “They are beyond marvellous.” Other comments included “Staff are very good and kind,” “Staff are all cheerful, you feel relaxed with them,” and “Staff are always happy to help.”

As part of the visit to the home we were able to spend time talking to the people who live there.

People living at the home were happy with the staff who supported them. One person said “All staff are very helpful, willing and friendly, I never feel embarrassed to ask for anything.”

People living at the home were asked if all staff were able to communicate well with them. Everyone asked said that they were. One person said “Everyone in the home speaks English but I think some staff may be able to speak another language as well.”

People said that if they needed help at night they were able to ring their bell and someone would come quickly to assist them.

The home holds bi-monthly meetings for the people who live at the home. People said that this was a chance to make comments and suggestions. Two people said that they would like the meetings to be held more frequently.

One person said “The staff are lovely you can call them day or night.”