Warley House

Warley House accommodates up to 39 older people, including those who may be living with dementia, across one adapted property. Communal accommodation is provided in a variety of lounge and dining areas and bedroom accommodation is provided in single rooms, some with en-suite facilities. The home is situated in a residential area on a main road and close to local amenities and bus routes into the centre of Scunthorpe. At the time of this inspection a service was being provided to twelve people.

At the last inspection in January 2017 the service met The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, but it was rated 'Requires Improvement'. This was because there were issues with promoting respect, dignity and independence and effective audits, for which we issued recommendations.

This comprehensive inspection of Warley House took place on 5 February 2018 and was unannounced. We saw that improvements had been made in the activities offered to people and that medicine and environmental audits of the service were carried out more regularly. We found the overall rating for this service to be 'Good'. The rating is based on an aggregation of the ratings awarded for all 5 key questions.

The registered provider was required to have a registered manager in post. On the day of the inspection we found that the registered manager had been in post for the past seven years. 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.

At this inspection we found that the provider had addressed the recommendations with regard to promoting respect, privacy and independence and using audits more effectively to identify shortfalls in service delivery.

There were systems to safeguard people from harm and risks were reduced. The premises were safely maintained. Staffing levels and recruitment practices were safe and protected people. The management of medication was safely carried out.

People were supported by qualified and competent staff that received regular supervision. People's mental capacity was assessed and their rights protected. The registered manager worked with other professionals and families to ensure decisions were made in people's best interests where they lacked capacity. People's nutrition and hydration were monitored. The premises were suitable for those living with dementia.

People received compassionate care from kind staff. People were supplied with the information they needed, involved in all aspects of their care and their consent was sought.

Person-centred care plans reflected people's needs well and were regularly reviewed. People were supported to maintain friend and family connections and networks. An effective complaint procedure meant that complaints were investigated without bias.

The service was well-led. The culture and the management style of the service were positive. Satisfaction surveys and meetings aided the quality audit system so that improvements in service delivery were made. The registered manager maintained a status quo, but had not been proactive in seeking current best practice to enhance the service delivery in general and in looking to the future.

The recording systems used in the service protected people's privacy and confidentiality as records were well maintained and securely held on the premises.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found