Cherry Blossom Care Home provides accommodation, personal care, and nursing care for up to 80 older people. The accommodation comprises of 80 single bedrooms located over three floors which can be accessed by stairs or lifts. All bedrooms have en- suite facilities. There are communal lounges with kitchenettes, dining areas and a garden for people and their visitors to use. The ground floor has a bistro, hair salon, day centre and a cinema room.

This unannounced inspection took place on 23 May 2017.

At the time of the inspection 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.

Whilst risks were assessed to reduce risks of harm to people, this was not always recorded. Staff monitored people’s health and welfare needs and acted on issues identified. People had been referred to healthcare professionals when needed. However, people’s risk assessments were not always updated after significant events.

Medication was administered by trained and competent staff and people could be assured that they received the medication that they required.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The provider was acting in accordance with the requirements of the MCA including the DoLS. The provider was able to demonstrate how they supported people to make decisions about their care. Where people were unable to do so, there were records showing that decisions were being taken in their best interests. DoLS applications had been submitted to the appropriate authority. This meant that people did not have restrictions placed on them without the correct procedures being followed.

Staff knew what actions to take if they thought that anyone had been harmed in any way. Local safeguarding procedures had been followed when necessary.

There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. The recruitment process was followed to ensure that people only worked with people after satisfactory checks had been carried out. Staff received the training they required to meet people’s needs and confirmed that they felt supported in their roles.

Staff were kind and compassionate when working with people. People’s privacy and dignity were upheld. Visitors were made to feel welcome to the home. Staff monitored people’s health and welfare needs and acted on issues identified. People had been referred to healthcare professionals when needed.

People were provided with a choice of food and drink that they enjoyed. When needed, people received the support they needed from staff to eat and drink.

Staff supported people to maintain their interests and their links with the local community to promote social inclusion.

Care plans gave staff the information they required to meet people’s individual care and support needs. The care provided was based on people’s preferences.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people felt confident to raise any concerns either with the staff or the registered manager.

Governance systems had improved since our previous inspection and action plans were now in place to address any shortfalls.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Cherry Blossom Care Home provides accommodation, personal care and nursing care for up to 80 older people. The accommodation comprises of 80 single bedrooms located over three floors which can be accessed by stairs or lifts. All bedrooms have en suite facilities. There are communal lounges with kitchenettes and dining areas and a garden for people and their visitors to use. The ground floor has a bistro, hair salon, day centre and a cinema room.

This unannounced inspection took place on 11 March 2016. There were 42 people living at the home at the time of this visit as one floor was not yet occupied. This was the first inspection since the provider registered this service in March 2015.

There was a registered manager in place during this inspection. 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.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. Where people had been assessed as lacking capacity, decisions were made in their best interest. Applications had been made to the local authorising agencies to lawfully restrict people’s liberty where appropriate. Staff demonstrated to us that they respected people’s choices about how they wished to be supported.

Records were in place for staff to monitor people’s assessed risks, support and care needs. Plans were put in place to minimise people’s identified risks and to assist people to live as safe a life as possible whilst supporting their independence. These records were not always completed in full by staff. This meant that there was an increased risk that risks to people’s health and wellbeing would not be identified promptly.

Arrangements were in place to ensure that people’s medicines were managed and administered safely. People’s nutritional and hydration needs were met. Infection control processes were in place to help reduce the risk of cross contamination.

When needed, people were able to access a range of internal and external health care professionals. People were supported to maintain their health and well-being. Staff supported people with their interests and hobbies and to maintain their links with the local community to promote social inclusion. People’s friends and families were encouraged to visit the home and staff made them feel welcome.

People were supported by staff in a compassionate and respectful manner. People’s care and support plans gave guidance to staff on any individual assistance a person required. Records included how people wished to be supported, and what was important to them. These records and reviews of these records did not always document that people or their appropriate relatives had been involved in this process.

Staff understood their responsibility to report any poor care practice or suspicions of harm. There were pre-employment safety checks in place to ensure that all new staff were deemed suitable and safe to work with the people they supported. There was a sufficient number of staff to provide people with safe support and care.

Staff were trained to provide care and support which met people’s individual needs. The standard of staff members’ work performance was reviewed during supervisions, competency checks and appraisals. This was to ensure that staff were confident and competent to provide people’s support and care.

The registered manager sought feedback about the quality of the home provided from people living at the home and their relatives. People and their relatives felt listened to and they were able to raise any suggestions or concerns that they had with the registered manager and staff.