The inspection took place on 15 February 2017 and was an unannounced inspection. The home is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for 39 people. At the time of our visit there were 38 people living at the home.

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 home is run. At the time of our inspection visit there was a change of management across a number of the provider’s homes. The registered manager of Tallington Rest Home was going to manage another of the provider’s services. The registered manager did return to the home to support us with this inspection. This was because there was only a peripatetic manager in post for one week, until the replacement manager started at the home. The registered manager had submitted an application to deregister from this location to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). However, at the time of our visit this had not been processed by the CQC and therefore this person was still the registered manager of Tallington Rest Home.

People and their relatives told us that they felt safe at the home. Staff were trained in adult safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if they considered someone was at risk of harm, or if they needed to report concerns.

There were systems in place to identify risks and protect people from harm. Risk assessments were in place and carried out by staff who were competent to do so. The risk assessments recorded what action staff should take if someone was at risk. Referrals were made to appropriate health care professionals to minimise risks and meet people’s health needs.

There were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. The registered manager had followed safe recruitment procedures. Medicines were given to people on time and as prescribed.

Policies and procedures were in place to guide staff in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff understood the processes in place for ensuring decisions were made in people’s best interests. Staff and the registered manager were ensuring these steps were taken for people living at the home. Staff sought people’s consent and recorded this.

Staff were caring, they knew people well, and they supported people in a dignified and respectful way. Staff acknowledged and promoted people’s privacy. People felt that staff were understanding of their needs and they had positive working relationships with them.

People and their relatives were involved in the assessment and reviews of their needs. Staff had knowledge of people’s changing needs and they supported people to make decisions or changes to the way their planned care was delivered. Staff offered choices to people regarding all aspects of their care and support, and upheld these choices. People told us that they had access to activities and hobbies.

People and staff knew how to raise concerns and these were dealt with appropriately. The views of people, relatives, health and social care professionals were sought as part of the service’s quality assurance process. Quality assurance systems were in place to regularly review the quality of the service that was provided.