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

Aughton Park is situated in a residential area of Aughton, Ormskirk. It provides accommodation over two floors for up to 50 adults, who require help with personal care. A separate unit on the first floor is available for those who are living with a dementia related illness. A passenger lift is provided for easy access to the first floor. All bedrooms are of single occupancy with en-suite facilities. Ample car parking spaces are available. A variety of amenities are nearby, such as churches, a corner shop, newsagents, a post office and public houses. Public transport links to surrounding areas are within close proximity.

At the last inspection on 05 March 2015, we rated the service ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection or on-going 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.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at Aughton Park. We did not identify any areas of risk during our inspection. The premises were safe, well-maintained and clean throughout. Those who lived at the home were protected from abuse and records showed the staff team had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults.

People who used the service were protected by the robust recruitment practices adopted by the home. This helped to ensure only suitable staff were appointed to work with the vulnerable people who lived at Aughton Park. People who lived at the home and staff members we spoke with said there were enough staff on duty to meet individual needs.

New employees were guided through a detailed induction programme. Staff were regularly monitored through supervision and appraisals and a broad range of training modules were provided. This helped to ensure all staff were supported to gain confidence and knowledge to enable them do the job for which they were appointed.

Medicines were being well managed. Regular medication audits were conducted and associated risk assessments completed. Key staff were provided with relevant medication training and we observed the safe administration of medicines. This helped to protect people from the mismanagement of medications.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems of the service supported this practice. Comments we received from those who lived at the home included; “Yes, I can do what I want”; “They [staff] ask do you want a wash or a shower. I do feel in control” and “My newspaper comes with whoever brings my breakfast to my bedroom. I can change where I have my breakfast every day if I want to.”

The dining experience was pleasant for those who lived at the home. People told us they enjoyed their meals and had a choice of menu. The registered manager had effective systems to protect people from the risk of malnutrition. One person told us, “The meals are appetising. We have a choice. They are nicely presented, which is important. They [staff] ask if you want more. The portions are very good. Eight out of ten overall. Drinks are topped up all day in my bedroom.”

People looked comfortable and relaxed in the presence of staff members. We observed staff supporting people in a kind and caring manner, ensuring their privacy and dignity was consistently protected. They displayed a friendly and compassionate attitude towards those who lived at the home. People we chatted with spoke highly of the staff team and relatives told us they were involved in every aspect of the

Aughton Park is situated in a residential area of Aughton, Ormskirk. The home accommodates up to 50 people who need help with personal care, as well as those who are living with dementia. Accommodation is arranged over two floors. The upper floor is accessible by a staircase and passenger lift. All bedrooms are of single occupancy with en-suite facilities. Ample car parking spaces are available. A variety of amenities are nearby, such as churches, a corner shop, newsagents, a post office and public houses. Public transport links to surrounding areas are within close proximity.

We last inspected this location on 19th September 2013, when we found the service to be meeting the regulations we assessed at that time. This unannounced inspection was conducted on 4th March 2015, when the registered manager was on duty. 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.

New employees were guided through a detailed induction programme and were supported to gain confidence and the ability to deliver the care people needed. Detailed assessments had been conducted, within a risk management framework. This meant people were protected against the possibility of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care, because risks relating to people’s health, welfare and safety were consistently well managed.

The staff team were confident in reporting any concerns about a person’s safety and were competent to deliver the care and support needed by those who lived at Aughton Park. Recruitment practices adopted by the home were thorough. This helped to ensure that only suitable people were appointed to work with this vulnerable client group.

The premises were immaculate and very well-maintained throughout. There were no unpleasant smells and people were protected from the risks of acquiring an infection by means of maintaining good standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Systems and equipment within the home had been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers’

recommendations, to ensure they were safe for use. This helped to protect people from harm.

The staff team were provided with a wide range of learning modules and were regularly supervised. This helped to ensure those who worked at Aughton Park were well trained to meet people’s health and social care needs.

Staff we spoke with and those we observed at work were evidently passionate about providing a high standard of service for those who lived at the home. We saw people being treated with kindness and compassion consistently throughout the day. People were supported to maintain their independence and their dignity was respected at all times by a caring and considerate staff team. We were told, “The staff are kind and they do listen if I ask them to do something differently. They are very pleasant and smiley. They are very kind and thoughtful.”

We found the management of medications to be safe and well organised. This meant people received their medicines on time and were consistently protected against risks associated with the unsafe handling of medicines.

The registered manager of this service had been in post for almost 20 years. She was well organised and very positive about providing a high standard of service for those who lived at Aughton Park. The turnover of staff was very low, which showed a dedicated and well managed workforce.

Aughton Park was well organised and very well managed. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed. Everyone we spoke with was very complimentary about the management of the home and the staff team. We found monitoring of the service to be very good.

During our visit to Aughton Park we spoke to six people who lived at the home. Each person we spoke to was happy with the care they received. Some comments we received included;

"I’m lucky to be here. I’ve no complaints at all". And, “They (the staff) are just lovely. They look after me well”.

The people we spoke to were happy with the food provided by the home. We found that people who were identified as at risk of being underweight were supported to access suitable nutrition and hydration.

We found that people were encouraged to participate in suggestions to improve the service in a variety of ways. The people we spoke to told us they had no complaints about the service.

The staff we spoke to were knowledgeable about the care needs of the people living at the home, and we found they had been recruited safely and effectively.

During our inspection we were able to speak with six people living at the home and two relatives, who all provided us with positive comments. They told us they felt safe living at Aughton Park, with their privacy and dignity always being respected and their needs being met by a kind and caring staff team. They said independence was promoted and they were able to make decisions and choices about what they wanted to do, whilst living at the home.

We found staff to be well supported and appropriately trained and those living at Aughton Park looked comfortable in their presence. We also spoke with some relatives who were all very complimentary about the staff team and the managers of the home.

Comments from those we spoke with included:

"They (the staff) go over and above their call of duty in this home."

"My relative is safe and secure living here, which is so important to us as a family."

"It is the little things they do, which makes Mum so happy to be here."

During our inspection we assessed standards relating to care and welfare and how people were supported to be involved in the planning of their own care. We also looked at how they were safeguarded from abuse. Standards relating to staff training and monitoring the quality of service provision were also inspected. We did not identify any concerns in any of the outcome areas we assessed.

They told us “the staff have all the time in the world for us", “they always take their time with us", "All the staff are very patient; they are always busy but they always have time for us".

We spoke to some people who told us they are involved in their care planning process. Comments included, “The staff are very helpful when I have an appointment", " I go to the hospital for check ups and the staff always remind me of the day and the time".

Records we looked at and people we spoke to told us their needs were being met by the service, and people had access to a range of services which met their individual needs.

People we spoke to about meals told us they liked the range of choices available to them and the fact that fresh food is always used. "It’s always freshly cooked and served by the chef".

Staff we spoke to told us they have received training in safeguarding people. "We have had training in safeguarding people, and we also get it updated".

People we spoke to told us "the staff are very kind and always there when you need them". They told us they think the staff are helpful and always around for them.

"Staff responsible for administering medication have received training and the chemist has been to give us all guidance recently".

People we spoke to told us they thought the home was very clean and did not have any offensive odours. "They are always cleaning and tidying up". "I think they work hard to make sure everywhere is clean", "Whenever I call in it’s always clean and tidy".

Staff we spoke to told us they had all the necessary checks before they started to work in the home. “They checked my references and I had an interview before they told me I had a job here".

People we spoke to told us they felt confident they could raise an issue of concern or complaint to the staff or managers if they felt they needed to. "I haven’t had to make a complaint, but I have the information in my room ".