The Bellingham Residential Care Home

People's experience of using this service: People told us they felt safe at Bellingham Residential Care Home. Relatives stated they believed their family members were made safe by the care they received. Staff told us they had appropriate training, knowledge and support to keep people safe. Staff told us how they managed risk in a way that respected the person and supported their dignity.

People and their relatives felt confident in the management. They told us there was a caring culture within the home and staffing levels were appropriate. One person told us, "I've never had to wait for anything."

It was clear staff morale was good and everyone was committed to ensuring people received care and support based on their preferences and life choices.

People expressed positive views on how staff treated them. Observations during our inspection showed people were respected and care and support was delivered in a dignified manner with consent being sought before any actions were taken.

Care plans had been developed with people and their relatives being involved throughout the process. These were regularly reviewed to reflect people's current needs and preferences. People were supported in activities of their choice within the home and within the local community.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. People received their medicines as prescribed and when needed and appropriate records had been completed.

The registered manager used the same safe recruitment procedures we found at our last inspection. Staff told us training was ongoing and they were supported to gain vocational qualifications in health and social care.

Staff supported people with their meals sensitively and respected their wishes. Everyone we spoke with told us the food was good and the registered manager ensured people always had access to snacks and drinks as and when they requested them.

There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family. People told us they were happy with the support they received. The service continued to have good oversight of relevant procedures through monitoring and auditing to ensure people received effective support and the service was well-led.

The service engaged with outside agencies to ensure people received timely healthcare support. The management team engaged with other agencies to gain updates on legislation, best practice and learn from other providers' experiences.