Old Gates Care Home

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff received training that was relevant to their role as well as regular supervision and appraisal. People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and their needs had been assessed in detail. There was involvement from external agencies in the delivery of care at the home.

Staff supported people in a caring and considerate way which respected their privacy, dignity and independence. People were able to express their wishes and relatives praised the staff approach. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people's specific care and support needs and how they wished to be cared for.

People's support plans were detailed and reviewed regularly. Their communication needs were met, and the staff understood their needs well. People were involved in activities in the home and the local community and they were supported to maintain relationships that are important to them. Complaints and concerns were investigated fully, and lessons learned where appropriate.

A range of audits and quality assurance checks were being completed and improvements had been made. The medicines audit did not always identify the monitoring of equipment for those with long term health conditions. We made a recommendation about this. Staff and relatives spoke positively of the registered manager who was described as, "Approachable", "Helpful" and "Flexible." Staff told us that they were supported by the management who had implemented a culture of continuous learning and development.