Carentan House provides residential care for up to 24 older people. It includes facilities to provide care on a short stay, respite or rehabilitation basis in the Homewards Unit. People staying on the Homewards Unit have additional care needs relating to improving mobility and independence.

At the last inspection in October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People told us they felt safe and were well cared for. The registered provider followed robust recruitment checks, to employ suitable people. There were sufficient staff employed to assist people in a timely way. People’s medicines were managed safely.

Staff had completed relevant training. We found that they received regular supervision, to fulfil their roles effectively.

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

People said they enjoyed good food. People's health needs were identified and staff worked with other professionals, to ensure these needs were met.

People said staff were kind and caring and that they treated people with dignity and respect. People’s independence was promoted. Visiting health and social care professionals spoke positively about the quality of care provided and said that staff acted upon their advice.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s individual care needs and care plans were person centred and detailed. There was a range of activities offered including themed days and meals to celebrate special events and festive holidays.

People told us that the service was well managed and organised. The registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care provided to people. People and staff were asked for their views and their suggestions were used to continuously improve the service.

Events requiring notification had been reported to CQC. The service met all relevant fundamental standards we inspect against.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We inspected this service on 23 October 2014. The service met all of the regulations we inspected against at our last inspection on 10 December 2013.

Carentan House is operated by North Yorkshire County Council and provides accommodation for up to 24 older people. This includes seven places on the Homewards Intermediate Care Unit. This is a unit for people who have extra care needs relating to improving mobility and independence. People who use the Homewards unit can stay for up to six weeks and are assisted by staff and relevant health care professionals to improve their health and wellbeing so that they may return home. A separate day unit is also provided at this service. 

Skilled staff provide care throughout the home; those working on the Homewards Intermediate Care Unit understood how to support people who used the service to increase their independence. Staff fully understood their roles and responsibilities, as well as the values and philosophy of the home. 

People were supported by patient kind staff who knew people’s needs well. Health care professionals visiting the home were all positive about the services provided at the home and told us that the staff communicated well with them to help to maintain people’s health and wellbeing. We saw that people were treated with dignity, privacy and respect.

The registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care provided to people. They spoke with people to find out their views and issues raised with them were dealt with appropriately. 

People we spoke with told us they liked living at Carentan House. They said their needs were met and they could choose to do what they liked and when. We found people looked well cared for and relatives told us they thought people were treated well and their experiences in the home were positive. Comments we received included: "It is very nice and I am well looked after." And "It is very good, very comfortable."

People told us they liked the food and they had plenty of choice. Comments included: "I like the food. It is very good." And "The food is always hot, which I like.” People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink.

Medicines were prescribed and given to people appropriately; we saw people were given the right medicine, in the right way and at the right time on the day of our inspection.

We observed there were sufficient staff to care for people on the day of our inspection. We saw the care staff being kind and respectful to people and responding to their needs in a calm, timely manner.

People who used the service and their visitors told us if they had any concerns or complaints they would discuss them with the Manager of the home or bring things up with staff at the time.

People told us they had been involved in the decision to live at Carentan House. One person said, “I just couldn’t manage at home anymore, so I came here.” A person who had had a previous planned short stay there commented, “I was involved in the decision to come back for another two weeks. I like it here.”

People told us that they were well cared for. They said the staff were ‘very kind and helpful.’ One person said, “I’ve been on some great trips out, which I enjoyed.”

People told us that they felt safe in Carentan House and if they needed to, they would speak to the manager or their key worker if they were troubled.

The staff we spoke with said that they had attended training courses to update their knowledge and skills. This helped them to provide safe and appropriate care for people who live in Carentan House.

We saw that the home had systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. These included risk assessment of the environment in the home to ensure people were safe. On the day of our inspection the fabric of the home was being updated. We observed the provider had ensured people were safe from harm.

People told us the home was comfortable and they had everything they needed in their own rooms.

They also told us the food was good and they were always offered a choice from the menu. They said that the staff were very kind and helpful and confirmed that they were always available if needed.

People remarked that there was a good continuity of staff and some of the staff had been at the home a long time.