The Polegate Care Home is a purpose built location. It is registered to provide accommodation for up to 44 people. Providing care and nursing for people including those who live with a dementia diagnosis. The service also provides support for up to eleven ‘non-weight bearing’ people who require support and accommodation during a period of respite care.

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 13 March 2016.

The Polegate Care Home was inspected in December 2015. Three breaches of regulation were identified. Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment, Regulation 10, Dignity and Respect and Regulation 18, Staffing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Since this inspection there has been a change to the provider name, however, The Polegate Care Home is still owned by the Bupa Group and the registered manager remains the same. The provider sent us an action plan stating they would have addressed all of these concerns by February 2016. At this inspection we found the provider was meeting the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The Polegate Care Home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

The registered manager was in day to day charge of the home, supported by a clinical lead nurse/ deputy manager. People told us that they felt supported by the management there was always someone available to support them when needed. Staff told us that the registered manager had a good overview of the home and knew everyone well.

People, relatives and staff told us the home was organised and well led. Staff felt supported and encouraged to provide person centred care for people and were motivated to improve people’s day to day lives. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and displayed kindness, patience and compassion when providing care. Care delivery was person centred and people and their next of kin if appropriate were involved in reviews of their care plans and how care was provided. Staff were prepared to give their own time to support people to attend events or do things that were important to them.

Environmental and individual risks to people were assessed and reviewed. Whilst encouraging people to maintain independence when possible people’s choices and wishes were supported. Management and staff had a good understanding of mental capacity assessments (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of how to recognise and report abuse. Staff treated people with respect and dignity and involved people in decisions about how they spent their time. People were asked for their consent before care was provided and had their privacy and dignity respected. Feedback was gained from people this included questionnaires and regular meetings with minutes available for people to access.

A full and varied programme of activity was provided. People told us they enjoyed the activities and were supported to stay active and do the things they enjoyed. Information was provided to inform people what had been planned and people were invited to give feedback.

Medicine policies and procedures were in place to ensure people received their medicines safely and all medicine procedures were checked and audited. People told us they received their medicines when they should and staff supported them to stay healthy.

People gave positive feedback about the meals provided. People had a choice of meals and staff knew people’s likes and dislikes. People’s nutritional needs were monitored and reviewed.

All required maintenance and servicing of equipment had taken pl