The Manor House-Thurloxton provides personal care and accommodation for up to five people. The home specialises in providing care for older people in a family home. The home is a large house situated in its own grounds at the edge of a rural village. The staffing and equipment available in the home mean the service is best suited to people with minimal care needs. At the time of the inspection there were five people in the home. Three people received assistance with personal care. The other two people lived their lives as independently as possible supported by the service staff.

This inspection comprised of two visits to the home. The visit on 23 August was unannounced. The visit on 29 August was announced and provided a further opportunity to speak with the provider and review documentation.

At the last inspection on 25 August 2015 the service was rated as Good. At this inspection the service remained Good.

People told us they felt safe in the home. A relative told us “I come every day. It is totally safe. They know how to look after people.” Staff said they knew how to report any concerns and were confident the manager would take appropriate action. People were supported by sufficient staff to meet their needs. Additional support for staff was available so they were able to prioritise people’s care needs.

People were supported by a small team of staff who knew them well and had the skills and experience to meet their needs. There was a system in place to recruit new staff safely. A programme of training had been planned to ensure staff knowledge was up-to-date.

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 told us how much they enjoyed their meals in the home. There was one main choice at lunch time cooked freshly using good quality ingredients. People were asked to choose their supper each day from a range of food and were offered lighter meals and snacks when they were unwell. One person told us “Food is very good. A bit too good. Lovely puddings!” Another commented “We have marvellous food.”

People confirmed their health care needs were met in the home. They told us if they were unwell they received prompt attention from their GP and good care from staff in the home. People were supported to attend hospital or clinic appointments.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the values in the service supported this practice.

The registered provider was experienced and committed to providing good care within this family home environment. They wanted to provide a service that met the required regulations in a manner that was appropriate to the size of the home and the needs of people living there.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

The Manor House-Thurloxton provides personal care and accommodation for up to five people. The home specialises in providing care for older people in a family home. The home is a large house situated in its own grounds at the edge of a rural village. The staffing and equipment available in the home mean the service is best suited to people with minimal care needs. At the time of the inspection there were five people in the home. Three people received assistance with personal care. The other two people lived their lives as independently as possible supported by the service staff.

This inspection comprised of two visits to the home. The visit on 23 August was unannounced. The visit on 29 August was announced and provided a further opportunity to speak with the provider and review documentation.

At the last inspection on 25 August 2015 the service was rated as Good. At this inspection the service remained Good.

People told us they felt safe in the home. A relative told us “I come every day. It is totally safe. They know how to look after people.” Staff said they knew how to report any concerns and were confident the manager would take appropriate action. People were supported by sufficient staff to meet their needs. Additional support for staff was available so they were able to prioritise people’s care needs.

People were supported by a small team of staff who knew them well and had the skills and experience to meet their needs. There was a system in place to recruit new staff safely. A programme of training had been planned to ensure staff knowledge was up-to-date.

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 told us how much they enjoyed their meals in the home. There was one main choice at lunch time cooked freshly using good quality ingredients. People were asked to choose their supper each day from a range of food and were offered lighter meals and snacks when they were unwell. One person told us “Food is very good. A bit too good. Lovely puddings!” Another commented “We have marvellous food.”

People confirmed their health care needs were met in the home. They told us if they were unwell they received prompt attention from their GP and good care from staff in the home. People were supported to attend hospital or clinic appointments.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the values in the service supported this practice.

The registered provider was experienced and committed to providing good care within this family home environment. They wanted to provide a service that met the required regulations in a manner that was appropriate to the size of the home and the needs of people living there.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

People who lived in the home told us the staff always acted in accordance with their wishes. One person said “They always ask before they give me any care”.

The people who lived in the home were complimentary about the service. People said "I'm being looked after very well. They couldn’t be kinder”, “I don’t have a single complaint” and “I recently had a fall and received very quick attention. I feel quite safe here”.

The home was in good decorative order throughout with good quality furnishings and fittings. All bedrooms were a good size and had en suite bath or shower facilities. People told us “It’s just like being at home” and “It’s homely and clean, not at all institutional”.

The design, layout and security of the premises were fit for purpose. The provider carried out environmental risk assessments and employed specialist contractors to undertake remedial work or improvements.

People said there were enough members of staff to meet their needs. One person said “There is always someone there when you need them”. A member of staff said “It’s a lovely home. It’s not pressurised and I get time to spend with the residents”.

Staff told us they worked well together and were a supportive team. They said they could always speak to the manager or colleagues if they had any problems or queries.

We found accurate and appropriate records were maintained by the provider. This helped ensure people received safe and appropriate care.

The environment in the home supported people’s privacy and dignity. Each individual had their own bedroom, en suite bathroom and small sitting room. One person said “I’m very comfortable here.” We were also told “the food is very good”.

The home was located in a rural setting. One person said “It’s a little bit isolated”. The owner told us that they regularly offered to take people out to social events at a local church, local cafés, garden centres and other trips.

People who lived in the home were relatively independent but sometimes needed assistance with bathing or dressing. One person said “I’m treated very well. The girls look after me and get me ready for bed in the evening”. Another person said “I have no complaints it’s a very good home”.

Staff recorded any significant care issues or appointments in a daily diary. This ensured that people received their planned care and treatment. When we spoke with the owner and the staff on duty they were knowledgeable about each individual’s care needs and preferences.

People told us that the owner was approachable and did their best to respond to any issues. One person said “I can ask them anything I like. I’ve got no complaints but if I had a problem I’m sure they would sort it out for me”.

People were complimentary about the owner and all of the staff employed at the home. We were told, “I find them all very nice” and “They are extremely kind and do a lot for me”.

All of the interactions we observed between people in the home and the staff were friendly, respectful and caring. We were told, “Everyone is very kind and they make it very homely”. One person said, “I don’t think anything could be improved, it is absolutely perfect for me”. People did not recall seeing their care plans but said if they needed anything they just asked and it was provided.

All of the people that lived in the home commented on how good the meals were. We were told, “The food is excellent and if we ask for something we get it”.

People told us, “I’m very well looked after” and “I’m very happy here. I feel fine and my health has improved”. We were told that the owner took them to their appointments at the doctors, dentists and opticians. One person said “they will take me to my appointments free of charge without any hesitation”.

Throughout the day of our inspection we observed that the interactions between the staff and the people that lived in the home were appropriate, friendly and caring. People were observed to be at ease and comfortable in the presence of staff and with each other. People told us they felt safe and were confident that any concerns would be acted upon. We were told, “If I did have any concerns I would tell the person in charge and I am confident they would act on it” and “Everyone is very pleasant and friendly. There are no restrictions we are free to come and go as we please”.

People told us that they were happy with the standard of personal care and support provided in the home. They said the owner and the staff listened to their needs and always did their best to respond to any requests.