Markham House

Risks associated with people's care and support had been identified and actions taken to minimise risks. Staff we spoke with confirmed they had received training in safeguarding and knew what action to take if they felt people were being abused. Staff confirmed that they had been safely recruited and had DBS check and references prior to commencing employment. Accidents and incidents were analysed, and trends and patterns were identified. Medicines were managed in a safe way; although the medication store room temperature was often recorded as being above the recommended temperature. However, the registered manager began to address this during our inspection.

We completed a tour of the home with the registered manager and found some areas of the home required attention. Some store rooms needed more shelves to prevent storage on floors and one store room required decluttering. The freezer required defrosting and the kitchen was in a poor state and required action. We discussed these issues with the registered manager who was aware of them and agreed to send confirmation of actions taken to address the issues.

Staff we spoke with did not always feel there were enough staff working with them to meet people's individual needs. The registered manager was in the process of appointing more bank staff so more staff would be available.

People's needs were assessed, and care was delivered in line with their preferences and choices. Staff received support, induction and training to ensure they had the skills to carry out their role. Staff were complimentary about the provider and felt they were very supported in their role. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a healthy and balanced diet in line with their dietary requirements. People had access to healthcare professionals.

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 we spoke with told us how they respected people and ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained. People were involved in planning their care and were able to make decisions about the care and support they received. Staff enjoyed their role and were happy to know they had made a difference and supported people to meet their outcomes. Staff were keen to support people to be as independent as possible.

Care plans were organised and easy to follow detailing people's needs and how these were to be met. People who used the service had access to a complaints procedure and were encouraged to make complaints where required. Complaints were followed up and responded to in line with the providers policy. People had access to various activities although this was limited due to the staffing issues.

We spoke with the registered manager who confirmed via email what actions had been agreed as a result of this inspection.