South Carey provides care and accommodation for up to 23 people. The home specialises in the care of older people in a comfortable village environment. The home puts particular emphasis on listening to people’s views and maintaining their interests and mobility.

There is 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.

At the last inspection the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. The domain of caring was rated Outstanding at the last inspection. People continued to tell us how exceptionally kind staff were. We found further developments in the home had been made as a direct result of listening to people’s views. Staff did everything they could to ensure people felt cared for in the home.

People told us they felt safe in the home. They said they would be comfortable to discuss any worries or concerns with the registered manager. Staff said they knew how to report any concerns and were confident the manager would take appropriate action. People were supported by sufficient staff. Staff worked as a team to cover any shortfalls in staff numbers.

Staff began work in the home after a robust recruitment process and a thorough induction. Staff were trained to meet people’s individual needs. Staff competency was monitored on an annual basis to ensure staff were able to care for people with skill and knowledge.

People received care and support that was personalised and respected their wishes and preferences. People were able to make choices about all aspects of daily living and were encouraged to maintain their independence.

People were offered a choice of food that was wholesome and appetising. People were pleased with the standard of food provided.

People confirmed their health care needs were met in the home. If they were unwell they received prompt attention from their GP and good care from staff. People were supported to attend hospital or clinic appointments. At the end of their lives people received effective and compassionate care from a team of health professionals.

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.

The registered manager and deputy were experienced and knowledgeable about the people living in the home and the care and support they needed. They worked well together and with other health care professionals and maintained good care standards tailored to each person.The registered manager told us “Every person is different. There is always room to improve things for that individual. I want people to be as fulfilled as they can be while they are here.”

Further information is in the detailed findings below

People received a good quality of support at this service. People were encouraged to express their views about the care and support they received and be as active as they wished. We saw that people had full and varied social lives.

People we spoke with told us that they were very happy with their care. One person told us “it's very nice here, we all really like it”. Another person told us "oh yes, I've always wanted to come here. It's definitely one of the better homes that I know of".

People were encouraged to be involved in writing and maintaining their care plans. We saw that care plans clearly described each person’s needs and preferences, and were reviewed regularly to remain up to date.

People told us they were happy with the staff support they received. One person told us “all the staff have a great sense of humour and they are all so patient”.

Staff were very knowledgeable about each person’s support needs. During our visit, we saw that staff interacted with people in respectful ways. Staff were supportive, patient and reassured people where necessary.

People told us they felt safe and were confident that any concerns they may have would be dealt with by the manager.

The service had a system whereby complaints and concerns were listened to, and acted upon immediately.

South Cary House is a care home for up to 23 people. The home specialises in the care of older people but does not provide nursing care. There is a registered manager who is responsible for the home. 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.

This inspection took place on 21 and 27 November 2014. This was an unannounced inspection.

On both days of our inspection there was a homely, calm and relaxed atmosphere. Staff interacted with people in a friendly and respectful way. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence and to pursue their interests and hobbies. They made choices about their day to day lives which were respected by staff. One person said “I try to do as much as I can for myself. Anything I can do they really let me get on with it and that’s good. They are very understanding.”

People spoke very highly of the care they received. One person said “I couldn’t wish for a better place. The staff are absolutely charming and caring.”  One visitor described the care as “excellent”. People were involved in planning and reviewing their own care. Staff respected people’s privacy and were aware of issues of confidentiality.

There were regular reviews of people’s health and care needs; staff responded promptly to any changes. People were assisted to attend appointments with appropriate health and social care professionals to ensure they received treatment and support for their specific needs.

People told us staff took the time to really get to know them; staff asked them about their life history, their interests, hobbies and preferred routines. There was a varied programme of activities and outings each month in line with people’s interests. People continued to be involved in the local community. They had a choice of nutritious, home cooked food. Each person we spoke with said they were happy with the food and drinks served in the home. One person who lived in the home said “The food on the whole is excellent.”

People had developed friendships with others who lived in the home; they kept in touch with their friends and relations. Friends and relatives could visit at any time. One visitor told us “I visit regularly. You can visit at any time. I feel it’s wonderful here. They always make me very welcome.”

People said the home was a safe place for them to live. One person told us “I would certainly say I feel very safe. I would say if I didn’t. I’ve never had a problem like that here.” They were supported to take risks; people who lived in the home told us they felt risks were part of “normal life”. Each visitor we spoke with said they thought the home was a safe place for their relative to live.

There was a stable staff team at the home. Staff were extremely kind and caring. They had an excellent knowledge of people’s care needs. Staff received a thorough induction and ongoing training and support. One person said “The staff are absolutely marvellous; you can’t fault them. Nothing is too much trouble.”

People were involved in decisions about the running of the home as well as their own care. People knew how to make a formal complaint if they needed to but felt issues could usually be resolved informally. One person said “They always ask you if you are happy with everything. Sally (the registered manager) comes round for an informal chat. You can talk about anything really. I think that’s really good.”

Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. This helped to ensure people’s legal rights were protected when they needed support to make decisions and they were not unlawfully deprived of their liberty.

The management structure in the home provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. The registered manager described the service as wishing to “deliver a home life for people; to allow people to live their lives and have their say.” We saw this approach put into practice by staff during our inspection. There were a number of audits and checks in place to monitor people’s safety and the quality of care. There were systems in place to share information and seek people’s views about the running of the home. These views were acted upon where possible and practical.