This inspection took place on the 25 April 2018 which was unannounced, the inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Springfields residential service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Springfields residential service provides accommodation for up to 16 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were ten people living at the home. Accommodation and facilities for people living at Springfield residential service are situated on the ground and first floor of the building. The home is situated in Copford, Colchester, Essex.

The service was safe. The service’s recruitment process ensured that appropriate checks were carried out before staff commenced employment. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse. People’s health and wellbeing needs were assessed and reviewed to minimise risk to health. People’s medication was managed well and records of administration were kept up to date.

The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to support people and to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to eat and drink enough as to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to health and social care services was made when required.

The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care. Staff always worked hard to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.

The service was responsive. Records we viewed showed people and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The service responded to complaints received in a timely manner.

The service was well-led. Staff and people spoke very highly of the registered manager and the provider who they informed to be very supportive and worked hard to provide an exceptional service. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 04 December 2014.

Springfields residential service provides accommodation for up to 16 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were nine people living at the home and two people receiving respite care.

The service has a registered manager. 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 felt safe and thought the staff were caring and respectful of them. People also thought this of the other people who lived at the service. The manager had trained senior staff to carryout risk assessments, record the findings and work with people to minimise risks.

Relatives found the staff, management and provider approachable and could speak to them if they ever needed to do so or had concerns. There were always sufficient numbers of staff on duty.

The medication was stored safely, there was a policy and procedure in place and the service had systems in place to identify medication errors and took appropriate as required to rectify any errors.

Staff knew peoples likes and dislikes and ensured they received care that was responsive to their needs.

The registered manager had received training and understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which meant they were working with the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions. The service had a plan in place for all staff to receive training in this subject in 2015.

The service supported people to maintain their independence and people spent their leisure time and going out of the service to spend time with their families. People who used the service enjoyed the weekday meeting to play word games together with members of staff.

People had access to healthcare professionals including their own GP, dentists and opticians.

There was a system in place for responding to people’s concerns and complaints. The registered manager informed us which was confirmed by the people who used the service that they toured the service each day. This provided an opportunity to meet with people and discuss any issues or concerns and take any necessary appropriate steps to resolve any issues.

Although staff received induction training upon joining the service, there was a lack of on-going training with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and food handling.

On the day of inspection there were ten people living at Springfields.

We spoke with three people who lived at the home and one visitor. One person said to us, "I couldn't wish for better. The staff are wonderful." Another person said, "This is a lovely home; one in a million." Everyone we spoke with told us they were treated with dignity. We observed the care and attention people received from staff. All of the interactions we saw were appropriate, respectful and friendly.

The accommodation was adapted to meet the needs of the people living there, was suited to caring for people who had mobility and was properly maintained. The home was warm, clean and was personalised to the people who lived there.

We saw that people's care plans and risk assessments reflected their needs and were up to date. Staff we spoke with were aware of the contents of the care plans, which enabled them to deliver safe care in line with those plans. The provider had systems in place that ensured the safe receipt, storage, administration and recording of medicines. The provider ensured staff were supported and trained to care for the people safely.

People told us that they liked living in Springfields Residential Home, that the care staff showed them respect and worked hard to look after them. They also told us that they were comfortable in the home. One person told us, “I was not sure about moving into a home but I am glad I did now.”

People we spoke with told us they were getting the care they required. However we found that people’s welfare and safety was not maintained as appropriate risk assessments for people were not always completed. For example people at risk of falls did not have a falls risk assessment completed.

The premises were clean, tidy and furbished to a homely standard. People we spoke with liked the style of the premises. One person told us, “It’s like home it has good food, clean rooms and happy people.”

During our visit we spoke with some of the people who use this service and gathered information about people's experiences through our observations and discussions with them.

We saw that people were supported to make decisions about their care. For example one person told us they preferred to carry out their own personal care and staff supported them to do this independently.

We saw that staff were respectful when speaking with people, taking time to explain what they were going to do.

People told us that the staff supported them to manage their health care needs told us that they saw the GP and chiropodist regularly and attended outpatients’ appointments when needed.

We saw that people had their nutritional needs assessed and monitored. People we spoke with told us that the quality of the food was good and there was a good choice offered.

We saw that people benefited from a safe and pleasant environment. One person told us that they were very happy living at the home and liked their room.

On the day of our visit we saw that the home was very clean and pleasantly decorated and comfortably furnished.