Sandiacre Court Care Centre is a nursing and residential home. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home can accommodate up to 81 people. At the time of our inspection there were 60 people living in the home. The accommodation is arranged over three floors; each floor has their own dinning and lounge areas, with some smaller rooms for relatives or quiet spaces. There is an enclosed accessible garden.

At our last inspection we rated the service ‘Good’, with the responsive domain rated as requires improvement, at this inspection we saw improvements had been made. The evidence continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service had improved to provide responsive care. Peoples care plans reflected preferences and choices which were followed. Areas of interest and stimulation were on offer. People’s views had been included and new initiatives developed. There was a complaints policy which was followed and concerns responded to. When people required end of life care it was provided with care and compassion and in line with peoples wishes.

The service continued to provide safe care. People felt supported by staff who knew how to ensure they remained safe from harm. Any risks had been reviewed and measures taken to reduce the risks. There were sufficient staff to support people’s needs. Medicines were managed safely by staff who had received training and guidance. Measures were in place to protect people from the risk of infection. When events had occurred improvements were made to reflect learning.

The service continued to provide effective care. Staff received training to support their role and had the opportunity to develop their learning. People had a choice of meals and their dietary needs had been catered for. When people required support from other health care professionals this was obtained. Shared learning from these professionals was used to develop good practice and follow current guidance or standards. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

The people told us they continued to receive good care. People had been supported to remain independent and their choices respected. People had established positive relationships and their dignity was respected. Individual needs had been considered, which included supporting peoples spiritual needs.

The service continued to be welled. There was a registered manager who understood their registration. People’s views had been obtained and any areas addressed. The provider continued to make improvements to the home and audits were completed to continually address all areas of the home and care being provided. Partnerships had been developed and these helped to advance learning in areas of care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 16 January 2016. Sandiacre Court is a new build offering full time care over three floors. On the day of the inspection only two of the floors were in use.. People who used the service had physical health needs and/or were living with dementia. The service was registered to provide accommodation for up to 81 people. At the time of our inspection 53 people were using the service. This was the service’s first inspection since it was registered with us on 23 December 2014. .

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

The care records did not always reflect the care people were receiving this meant there was a risk that some people would not receive the correct care as their needs changed.. Stimulation was offered on an organised basis and people and relatives told us they would like to see an increase in daily meaningful interactions. The provider had responded to verbal complaints it had received however there was no system in place to record these to look at themes and trends to drive improvement..

People told us they felt safe and staff had received training to ensure they knew how to recognise and report any concerns. Staff told us they had received training on their induction and on going regular training to maintain their knowledgeable and skills about their roles and responsibilities. People had risk assessments to reflect their individual needs in maintaining their independence and safety in the environment. There were sufficient staff to support the needs of the people. The manager ensured an on going review of staffing to reflect the changing needs of the people who used the service. People received their medicines safely and there were checks to ensure appropriate recording and storage. Staff received checks to ensure they were safe to work at the service.

We found staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The provider ensured that people had been involved in their care planning and where they lacked capacity other people were involved to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests. People felt they received a good choice of food and their individual preferences were considered in the menu planning. Referrals to health care professionals were completed in a timely manner to ensure people’s health care was maintained.

Staff had developed positive relationships with people and they knew about their life and daily choices. People who used the service told us they felt their privacy and dignity was respected.

The manager had a range of auditing systems which reflected in developing the quality of the care being provided. The provider used a range of methods to continue to drive improvement. Staff felt well supported by the manager in their everyday role and in their career development.