About the service:

Starbrook is a residential care home, registered to provide personal care for up to six people. At the time of the inspection, six people were living at the home.

People’s experience of using this service:

People were unable to share their views with us during the inspection. Because of this, we spoke with people’s relatives and received positive feedback. We also made observations of interactions between people and staff. We heard dignified interactions. People sounded as though they were having fun with staff and enjoying the support. The sounds people made corresponded with information in their care plans that would indicate they were happy and comfortable with the support they received.

Staff understood their responsibility to identify and report any concerns of abuse. They felt confident in reporting concerns to the registered manager and area manager. They knew they could also contact the local authority and CQC.

Medicines records and storage systems evidenced that medicines were managed safely.

There were protocols in place to support people who had epilepsy. These detailed each step staff should take to ensure the person received treatment in a timely and safe manner.

People had support plans documenting their needs, interests, preferences and routines. This meant that staff could find out more information about how best to support the person by reading their plan.

There were staff vacancies but measures were in place to ensure people received consistency of care, from staff who knew their needs well. There were agency staff who had worked at the home for several months prior to the inspection. They were booked by the home to work there until the vacant positions had been filled.

People were supported to spend time in the communities of the surrounding towns. This was either by visiting places of interest or taking part in activities based on their hobbies. During the inspection, people went for countryside walks, visited their favourite shops and cafés, and attended horse riding sessions.

The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were applied when writing people’s support plans. Where people were able to express their views, make choices and decisions, or where people required specific assistance, the support plans made this clear.

Assessments of people’s mental capacity to consent to specific decisions regarding audio and visual monitoring systems were not always in place. For example, staff members assigned to working with certain people would carry with them an audio monitor if the person was alone in their bedroom. The systems were put in place to monitor people’s safety. However, the evidence to show that this was in the person’s best interests and that this was the least restrictive option was not recorded. This had been identified by the area manager in their audits and the registered manager understood this was an area for improvement.

All other assessments of people’s mental capacity included how the person had been supported to be involved in the decision. People’s accessible information needs were being met while involving them in the assessment process. There were pictorial documents to help gauge people’s understanding of the decisions being made.

All staff spoke positively about working at the home. They told us they received regular supervision meetings with the registered manager and felt supported in their role. All staff were complimentary about the registered manager. Their comments included, “[The registered manager] is amazing, she is so helpful and always there to support us.”

The service met the characteristics of Good in all key questions.

Rating at last inspection: There had been a change in ownership and registration of the service since the previous inspection. This was the first inspection since the change.

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled comprehensive inspection.

Follow up: We will monitor all intelligence received about the s