Old Court Barn Residential Care Home

The home was bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to seven people. Seven people were using the service at the time of the inspection. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by how the building was used. There were no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear anything which suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

What life is like for people using this service:

• People enjoyed living at Old Court Barn had developed caring relationships with staff who promoted people's rights to independence, dignity and privacy. Staff knew what was important to people and what interested them. • Staff understood people's safety needs well and supported them so their individual risks were reduced. • People's communication preferences were supported and staff assisted people to make their own decisions about their day to day lives. • There were sufficient staff to care for people and people were comfortable to ask for assistance from staff when they wanted this. • People were supported to have their medicines safely. People's medicines were regularly checked and reviewed. • Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink so they would remain well. • People had access to health care and support from other health and social care professionals. This helped to ensure people had good mental and physical health outcomes. • People's care preferences and needs and the views of their relatives were considered when care was assessed, planned and reviewed, so people's needs continued to be met. • People were supported to keep in touch with others who were important to them. Ways of working with people's relatives were agreed which provided a consistent approach to the care people received. • Staff received the training they needed and to develop the skills they required to care for people. • The risk of infections and accidental harm was reduced, as staff used the knowledge and equipment provided to do this. • People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this. • People had opportunities to spend their time doing things they enjoyed. This included maximising people's opportunities to enjoy spending time in the local community. • The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control, independence, inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

• Systems were in place to take any learning from complaints and to further improve people's care. • The registered manager sought suggestions for improving people's care further and suggestions were listened to and acted on. • The registered manager and staff reflected on the care provided, so improvements in people's care would be driven through. The registered manger planned to continue to develop the facilities at the home and to further develop their strategy for supporting people at the end of their lives. •We found the service met the characteristics of a "Good" rating in all areas; For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk