This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on the 07 August 2018. Stennards Leisure Retirement Home (Kings Norton) is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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. Stennards Leisure Retirement Home (KN) can accommodate up to 25 people. At the time of our inspection 21 people were using the service. Some people living at the home were living with Dementia.

At our last inspection on 21 July 2015 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found 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.

Why the service is rated good.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of this inspection. 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 continued to receive care that made them feel safe. People were cared for by staff who were trained in recognising and understanding how to report potential abuse. Risk assessments had been completed to show how people should be supported with everyday risks. Recruitment checks had been carried out to ensure staff were suitable to work in a care setting with vulnerable people. At the time of our inspection there were sufficient staff to respond promptly to people's needs. Medicines were stored securely and records showed that staff received training and competency assessments before they were permitted to administer medicines.

People continued to receive effective support from staff with a sufficient level of skills and knowledge to meet their specific needs. People were supported with their dietary needs and staff enabled people to access external healthcare services to promote their well-being. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the records and systems in the service required some further improvement.

People received a caring service by staff who knew them well. The staff team continued to be caring and were committed to meeting people's needs with kindness and respect. People were supported to make their own choices about their daily lives. Staff interacted with people in a warm and kind way, respected people's privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.

People continued to receive a service that was responsive to their diverse and individual needs. Care plans were personalised and contained details about people's preferences and their routines. People were supported to access activities to support their interests and well-being, including links with and trips out to the local community. Processes were in place to ensure complaints were responded to and resolved where possible.

People and staff were positive about the leadership skills of the registered manager. The service continued to be well-led, including making detailed checks and monitoring of the quality of the service. Audits and quality checks were undertaken on a regular basis and any issues or concerns addressed with appropriate actions. The registered manager led by example and encouraged an open and honest culture within their staff team. People were supported to express their views and they were listened to and acted upon. The registered manager and their staff team worked together with other organisations to ensure people's wellbeing.

Further i

We inspected this home on 21 July 2015. This was an unannounced Inspection. The home was registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 25 older people. At the time of our inspection 21 people were living at the home some of whom were living with dementia or who had additional mental health needs. Nursing care was not provided. The accommodation was provided in both single and shared bedrooms; the home had bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground and first floor. There were shared lounges and dining facilities on the ground floor. Lift access was available to all floors.

The registered manager was present during our inspection. 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 using this service were safe. Staff knew how to recognise when people might be at risk of harm, and were aware of the provider’s procedures for reporting any concerns. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from harm. People told us they were encouraged to raise any concerns they had.

All the people, relatives and staff we spoke with told us there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff had been trained and had been supported to obtain qualifications to enable them to ensure that care provided was safe and followed good/best practice guidelines. Robust recruitment checks were in place to ensure new staff were suitable to work in the home.

People had received their medicines safely. We observed staff practising good medicine administration. We checked records and stocks of medicines and these indicated people had received their medicines as the doctor had prescribed.

Care plans contained guidelines and risk assessments to provide staff with information that would protect people from harm. Measures had been put into place to ensure risks were managed appropriately; ensuring people were involved in making decisions which minimised restrictions on their freedom, choice and independence.

People were supported to stay healthy. Opportunities were provided and people were supported to have access to a wide range of health care professionals.

People’s nutritional and dietary needs had been assessed and people were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain good health. People told us they had access to a variety of food and drinks which they liked and enjoyed.

Staff we spoke with were aware of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). They had ensured people received the assessments and support they required and had made the necessary applications to the local supervisory body for Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People’s needs had been assessed and care plans developed to inform staff how to support people in the way they preferred.

People who lived in this home and where appropriate people’s relatives, told us that they were happy with the care provided and that people were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. People told us they continued to pursue individual interests and hobbies that they had earlier in life.

People knew how to raise complaints and the provider had arrangements in place so that people were listened to and action could be taken to make any necessary improvements.

We received consistent feedback that Stennards (Kings Norton) was a good place to live, to work and to visit. People told us the home was well-led by approachable managers.

On the day of our unannounced visit 23 people were living at this care home. We subsequently spoke to eight people who use the service and three members of care staff.

People were complimentary about the care staff who supported them and their living environment. Comments included, “They are really good to me, the food is good and my bedroom is very comfortable” and “The staff know me really well.”

From our observations it was apparent that care staff were attentive, polite and sought consent before providing care and support.

We examined care plans and found that people’s needs were properly assessed and that care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plans. People who used services had given their consent and were consulted about the care and support they received.

Care plans, risk assessments, staff records and other records relevant to the management of the services were accurate and fit for purpose. Records were kept securely and could be located promptly when needed.

We found that people who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent it from happening.

On the day of our inspection there were 21 people living at the home. We subsequently spoke to six people who lived there, four of their relatives and four members of care staff.

We found the home to be clean, spacious, nicely presented and well maintained.

People told us, “The staff are very good” and “The food is perfect.”

Our observations and conversations with people using the service confirmed that the staff were attentive, polite and that the managers were responsive to suggestions and feedback. It was clear that the staff had a good knowledge of the people who lived at the care home and were familiar with their preferences and health conditions.

We found that care and support was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people’s safety and welfare and that there were good quality checking systems and procedures in place.

Whilst the majority of records maintained were accurate and up to date, we found that some records had not been maintained and failed to detail the personal care that had been provided to some of the people living in the home. This placed some people at risk of not having their care needs met through inaccurate records.

Relatives of people using the service made complimentary comments. Comments included, “My relative gets good care, they take care of all her health needs” and “The staff treat people with respect, they never patronise and always help my relative to be as independent as he can be.”

People living at Stennards Leisure Retirement Home were happy with the care provided. One person told us ‘’ I love the place, the food is wonderful and I’m well looked after’’.

During our visit, we found that people had good levels of interaction from care workers. Care workers were kind and caring in their approach to people. We saw care workers supporting people in a sensitive and respectful manner. People were wearing clothes that were clean and their hair and nails were neat and tidy.

We spoke with three relatives of people who lived at the home. They told us they were satisfied with the care provided. One relative told us ‘’ I have no concerns. The staff are very friendly, they do everything for mum’’.

People who lived at the home told us it is always kept clean. One person told us ‘’The home is always kept clean. Staff regularly change my bedding. The toilets are clean, and if they ever get blocked they are sorted very quickly’’.

People who lived at the home told us that staff consulted them. One person told us ‘’Staff consult me about my views and ask my opinion’’. Relatives told us ‘’Staff always ask us if we have any concerns’’ and ‘’They ask my views, consult on the care’’.

People living at Stennards Leisure Retirements Home were generally happy with the care provided. People told us that they were confident that any concerns raised were taken seriously and that their views were acted upon.

People were confident that they could choose how they spent their time, so that they could make decisions about their daily lives. They told us that they were happy with the meals at the home and that that the home was kept clean and comfortable.

‘‘The food is always good, we get a choice’’.

‘’The foods good but basic’’.

‘‘Food is marvellous, there’s always a choice’’.

‘‘I’m happy with my bedroom and the environment’’.

People told us that there ongoing health and care needs were looked after. They were referred to health professionals when they needed to be and we were told that were enough staff on duty to meet their needs. People said:

‘’The optician visits regularly and they get the doctor out quick if you are unwell’’.

’‘They always get the doctor if needed’’.

‘‘There are enough staff and they are all very nice’’.

‘’ The staff look after us. You can always call staff at night if you need them’’