Bereweeke Court Care Home is a nursing home registered to provide accommodation for up to 50 people, including people living with a cognitive impairment. At the time of the inspection 38 people were being accommodated. The home is based on four levels, but the top level was closed at the time of inspection as it was being refurbished.

The inspection was conducted on 27 March 2017 and was unannounced. There was a registered manager in place. 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.

We received mixed views from people about staffing levels and some told us they sometimes had to wait for staff to support them. At mealtimes, we saw staff struggled to support everyone who needed help to eat at the same time; however, at other times, we found staff responded promptly to requests for assistance. Following the inspection, the registered manager wrote to us detailing alternative arrangements they had made to help ensure there were enough staff available at mealtimes.

People felt safe and felt able to raise concerns. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to prevent, identify and report abuse. People were protected from individual risks in a way that supported their independence and environmental risks were managed effectively.

People were supported to take their medicines safely. Suitable arrangements were in place for ordering, storing, administering and disposing of medicines, including topical creams.

The process used to recruit staff was safe and helped ensure only suitable staff were employed. Plans were in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies. Fire safety equipment and procedures were tested regularly and staff were trained to administer first aid.

Staff underwent a comprehensive induction and training programme. They were knowledgeable and skilled at meeting people’s needs. They were suitably supported in their role through the use of supervision and appraisal processes.

Staff acted in the best interests of people and followed legislation designed to protect people’s rights. They also involved people or their relatives, where appropriate, in discussing and planning the care and support they received.

People were offered a choice of meals and their dietary needs were met. They were encouraged to drink often. People were supported to access other healthcare services.

People were offered a choice of meals and their dietary needs were met. They received appropriate support to eat, when needed, and were encouraged to drink often.

People were supported to access other healthcare services and staff worked well with external professionals. Staff had the necessary skills to help ensure people received appropriate end of life care in a dignified way.

Staff cared for people with kindness and compassion, respected people’s privacy and treated them in a dignified way. They interacted positively with people to build meaningful relationships and supported people with their spiritual needs.

Staff were committed to meeting people’s needs in a personalised way according to their individual needs. Care plans contained comprehensive information to enable staff to support people in a consistent way and care plans were reviewed regularly.

People were encouraged to make as many choices as possible. They received mental and physical stimulation through a range of suitable activities in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis.

The provider sought and acted on feedback from people. There was a suitable complaints procedure in place and people were confident any concerns would be addressed.

People and their families felt the service was run well. They had confidence in the management, as did the staff. There was