Annacliffe Residential Home provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 60 people. This is a large care home situated close to Blackpool town centre. Parking facilities are available at the front of the home. There are ensuite facilities and lift access to all floors. A number of lounges are available so people can choose where to relax. There is a ramp access to the home for people with mobility needs. At the time of the inspection there were 58 people being supported by the registered provider.

Rating at last inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection. At this inspection we found the service Good. We found the registered provider continued to provide a good standard of care to people who lived at the home.

Why the service is rated Good

At this inspection we found the registered provider had systems to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and acted as required. The service carefully monitored and analysed such events to learn from them and improve the service. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices. The registered provider had reported incidents to the Care Quality Commission when required.

People told us staff were caring and respectful towards them. Staff we spoke with understood the importance of providing high standards of care and enabled people to lead valued lives.

We found there were sufficient numbers of staff during our inspection visit. They were effectively deployed, trained and able to deliver care in a compassionate and patient manner. One person told us, “They [staff] are excellent, I can’t fault them, they’re awfully kind and thoughtful.”

Staff we spoke with confirmed they did not commence in post until the management team completed relevant checks. We checked staff records and rotas and noted employees received induction and training appropriate to their roles.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. Care records showed they were reviewed and any changes had been recorded.

We looked around the building and saw the home was clean and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required. Staff wore protective clothing such as gloves and aprons when needed. This reduced the risk of cross infection.

Medication records provided staff with a good understanding about specific support needs of each person who lived at Annacliffe Residential Home.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People told us they had plenty of food and drink with the option of additional snacks and drinks between meals.

We observed only positive interactions between staff and people who lived Annacliffe Residential Home. We observed humour used to foster positive relationships. There was a culture of promoting dignity and respect towards people. We saw staff spent time with people as they completed routine tasks.

There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and visible within the home. People we spoke with, and visiting relatives, told us they were happy and had no complaints.

The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, staff meetings, unannounced visits at night and daily discussions with people who lived at the home to seek their views about

The inspection visit at Annacliffe Residential Home was undertaken on 28 and 29 June 2016 and was unannounced.

This is a large residential care home situated close to Blackpool town centre. Parking facilities are available at the front of the home. The home offers accommodation for a maximum of 46 people who require nursing or personal care. At the time of the inspection, 41 people were living at the home. There are ensuite facilities and lift access to all floors. A number of lounges are available so people can choose where to relax. There is a large garden at the rear for people to access. There is ramp access to the home for people with mobility problems. At the time of our inspection, there was building work on site as the provider was having a unit built alongside the main building. The unit will specialise in the care and support of up to 14 people with dementia.

The service did not have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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. There was an interim manager to guide and support the newly appointed manager. The new manager was in the process of submitting their application to become registered manager at the time of our inspection.

At the last inspection on 12 November 2013, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations inspected.

During this inspection, staff had received abuse training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices related to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure.

The provider had recruitment and selection procedures to minimise the risk of inappropriate employees working with vulnerable people. Checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at the service. This was confirmed from discussions with staff.

We found staffing levels were suitable with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people who used the service.

Staff responsible for administering medicines were trained to ensure they were competent and had the skills required. Medicines were safely kept and there were appropriate arrangements for storing medicines.

Staff received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.

People and their representatives told us they were involved in their care and had discussed and consented to their care. We found staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Comments we received demonstrated people were satisfied with their care. The management and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. They were committed to providing a good standard of care and support to people who lived at the home.

A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew how to complain. Staff spoken with felt the management team were accessible, supportive, approachable and had listened and acted on concerns raised.

The general manager had sought feedback from people who lived at the home and staff. They had consulted with people and their relatives for input on how the service could continually improve. The provider had regularly completed a range of audits to maintain people’s safety and welfare.

We carried out this review to check whether Annacliffe Residential Home had taken action in relation to: -

Outcome 14 – Supporting Workers

Outcome 16 – Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

This was because the home was not compliant at the previous inspection.

We spoke with a range of people about the home. They included the manager, staff and people who lived at the home. We also had responses from external agencies including the local authority contracts team. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced living at the Annacliffe.

We checked records and systems that related to the support of staff and the quality monitoring of service provision. Staff told us they felt supported. Both staff and people living at the home expressed feeling safe and happy at the Annacliffe. One person told us, “The staff are really good and I have no complaints”.

We discussed with the manager the action plan she had developed in order to achieve compliance. We confirmed that the home had carried out the actions it had planned.

We spoke individually with the manager, staff and people who lived at Annacliffe Residential Home. We also discussed care with relatives. We additionally observed care being undertaken throughout our inspection. We undertook a Short Observational Framework for Inspection. We reviewed care records, policies and procedures, audits and risk assessment documentation.

The service demonstrated good practice that ensured people were cared for in a supportive and respectful manner. One person told us, “Staff are very caring and respectful – I really like them all”. A relative said, “They’re always working hard and keeping the place clean and tidy”. This was underpinned by the service’s understanding of consent and infection control practices.

However, care practice and record-keeping was not fully underpinned by clear, regular auditing procedures. The home did not undertake formal, recorded supervision. Regular, updated mandatory training had not been provided.

Nevertheless, we observed that staff were able to provide care in a respectful, timely and unhurried way. People appeared relaxed and comfortable.

We spoke with a range of people about the home. They included, the registered manager, senior staff, staff members, people who lived at the home and relatives. We also had responses from external agencies such as social services in order to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced.

People told us they were treated respectfully by staff, comments included, "The staff are all polite and respectful." Also, "I need help walking the staff help me in a dignified way."

People told us they were happy with the service and knew how to raise issues, should they have any. People we spoke with said they didn't have any complaints or concerns. A relative spoken with said, "This was the best place we looked at and it has proved to be. We have never had to complain. The manager and staff sort any issues out straight away."

People we spoke with told us they could express their views and were involved in decision making about their care. Staff confirmed to us they also involved relatives where possible. This was to ensure people received the right care and support. This was confirmed when we spoke with residents and relatives. One resident spoken with said, "I have breakfast in my room every day it's my choice and not a problem for the staff."

We spoke with Blackpool council contracts monitoring department and they had no concerns or issues with the service.