This comprehensive inspection took place on 15 November 2018. The inspection was unannounced. This meant that the provider and staff did not know we were coming. This was the first inspection of this service since the new provider registered with The Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2018.

Antron Manor is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Antron Manor can accommodate up to 16 people in a detached period property in the town of Penryn. The home consists of three floors with a stair lift providing level access to the first floor. The top floor was used for offices. There were numerous areas for people to sit and spend their time as they chose. At the time of this inspection there were 16 people using the service.

There was a registered manager that registered with CQC in April 2018. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered persons, 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. The registered manager was supported by senior care staff and the directors. One of the directors worked at the service most days and supported the registered manager.

The registered manager was very visible at the service and undertook an active role. Since being at the service they had been working with staff to implement new ways of working. This had been a difficult time for staff as there were a lot of changes. The directors had worked with the registered manager and the staff team to meet agreements regarding the timings of changes and what was necessary.

At the inspection we found people were not protected from unsafe and unsuitable premises. In particular, we highlighted scald risks from the hot water supply and windows on the first floor which were not restricted to prevent vulnerable people from the risk of falling out. After the inspection the provider took immediate steps to mitigate the risks of falling from first floor windows. Window restrictors were put in place within three days on all first-floor windows and two ground floor windows which looked over the basement and had a small drop.

The director said they had identified that the hot water was too hot and had a quote to have thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) fitted. In the meantime, the registered manager took action and put up hot water warning signs above every hot tap used by people at the service. Since the inspection the registered manager has confirmed TMVs have been fitted.

Ten people’s bedroom doors had wooden door wedges holding them open. These were fire doors and would not be effective in the event of a fire as they would not be able to close. Following the inspection, the provider fitted door guards on these doors so they would close in the event of a fire.

The home was clean and felt homely. Throughout the home there were numerous floor level changes which posed a risk to people of slip, trip or fall hazards. There were no warning signs to advise people of these level changes. Following the inspection, the registered manager wrote to us to inform us that they had put in place signage in areas of uneven flooring and slopes. There were emergency plans in place to protect people in the event of a fire or emergency.

Staff were able to anticipate people’s needs and were respectful, discreet and appropriate in how they managed those needs. There were positive and caring relationships between staff and people who lived in the home and this extended to relatives and other visitors. Staff were compassionate, treated people as individuals and with dignity and respect. Staff knew the people they supported, through their personal histories and daily pr