The inspection took place on 27 June 2017 and was unannounced.

Sherwood House is a residential care home providing support for up to 35 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people at the home, some of whom were living with dementia. The home had recently changed to a new provider at the time of inspection.

At our last inspection we found breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found actions had been taken to ensure the regulations had been met and the service had improved.

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.

People were kept safe by robust risk assessments that identified any risks they faced and measures to keep them safe. Staff understood how to promote people’s independence whilst managing risks. Where accidents or incidents occurred, actions were taken to prevent them reoccurring. Plans were in place to keep people safe in the event of an emergency.

Where people had health conditions, plans were in place to ensure that their healthcare needs were met. Staff worked alongside healthcare professionals to meet their needs. Staff had received training to ensure they could carry out their roles effectively. People’s medicines were managed and administered safely. We did note that in some cases where people were administered creams and ointments, these were not recorded. The provider took action to rectify this following the inspection.

People had access to a range of activities that were suited to their needs. Staff supported people to make their own choices about their care. Staff interacted with people in a way that showed kindness and compassion. People were involved in the running of the home through regular meetings. A complaints policy was in place and people were aware of how to raise a complaint if they were not happy.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager. Regular staff meetings took place that provided opportunities for staff to make suggestions. Staff had regular one to one supervisions and appraisals, to encourage personal development. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and the provider had carried out checks to ensure that staff were appropriate for their roles. Staff understood their roles in safeguarding people from abuse.

The provider kept up to date records. People’s care plans were person centred and contained important information about them. Staff knew the people that they were supporting and they promoted people’s privacy and dignity when providing care. People’s rights were protected because staff worked in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (2005). The registered manager understood their responsibilities and notified CQC of important events and incidents.

People were offered choices of food each day and their dietary needs were met. People were regularly asked for their feedback on food and other aspects of their care. Audits were in place to measure and assure the quality of the care that people received.