The inspection took place on 3 May 2018 and was unannounced.

Compton House Christian Nursing Home 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. The home accommodates 27 people in one adapted building.

On the day of our inspection there were 19 people living in the home. The home provides accommodation for older people, some of whom require support with their nursing needs. The home is situated in Lindfield, Haywards Heath. It is a large property, spread over two floors. It has a communal lounge, dining room and well-maintained gardens for people to enjoy. The home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a ‘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 home is run.

People were at the heart of the providers’ and registered manager’s vision and values. These were fully embraced by staff and embedded in practice. People were supported to lead fulfilled, enriched and purposeful lives. People benefited from a forward-thinking and proactive provider and registered manager who strived for excellence and continual improvement.

There was outstanding oversight and constant efforts were made to further develop and improve an already ‘Good’ service. Opportunities were created to enhance partnership working. This encouraged learning and shared good practice and benefited people’s lives. Feedback about the registered manager and the service that was provided, was overwhelmingly positive. Comments from people included, “My quality of life has improved for the better since living here. I am not lonely. I join in activities and the entertainers they bring in are excellent. Talking in the lounge helps pass the time". Another person told us, “I was not happy at the thought of coming here and leaving my own home but now ‘It is my home’”.

The registered manager’s practice as well as that of the service people received, was held in high-regard. They were a key-driver in the continued and sustained outstanding practice. One person told us, “You would be hard pushed to find a manager and deputy so respected by everyone”. Feedback from external healthcare professionals recognised this. The registered manager had been asked to take part in projects with the local authority, to act as a role model and share best practice. A healthcare professional told us, “The manager has always been open and approachable. She is open to new ideas and approaches and guides and supports her staff team sensitively. She is a great leader”.

There was a whole team approach to providing excellent care. Staff were proud to work at the home and people’s care and experiences were paramount. Without exception people told us that staff were kind and caring. People were actively involved in decisions about their care and in the running of the home. It was evident that their wishes and aspirations drove practice. Concerns and comments were listened to and changes made as a result. Staff had an excellent understanding of people’s needs and preferences. Creative ways of working and being open to new developments and opportunities, enabled the registered manager and staff team to ensure people had an exceptional quality of life.

People experienced a responsive service. Staff went the extra-mile to ensure people’s needs, wishes and aspirations were at the forefront of everything they did. There was an extensive and varied range of social activities and opportunities. People’s skills were recognised and they were encouraged to retain and develop these. Some people had enjoyed classes from an art teacher and had entered their work into a local competition. People took part in meaningful, interesting and fun activities that occupied their time

The inspection took place on 14 December 2015 and was unannounced.

Compton House Christian Nursing Home provides accommodation for twenty-seven older people who need support with their nursing or personal care needs. On the day of our inspection there were twenty-seven people living at the home. The home is a large property situated in a small village outside Haywards Heath, it has a large communal lounge, dining room and well maintained gardens.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people’s needs were met and their safety maintained. Staff had received induction training and had access to ongoing training to ensure their knowledge was current and that they had the relevant skills to meet people’s needs. People were safeguarded from harm. Staff that had received training in safeguarding adults at risk, were aware of the policies and procedures in place in relation to safeguarding and knew how to raise concerns. People felt safe, one person told us “Oh yes I feel safe, staff and attention make it safe.”

Risk assessments had been undertaken and were regularly reviewed. They considered people’s physical and clinical needs as well as hazards in the environment and provided guidance to staff in relation to the equipment that they needed to use and the amount of staff required when assisting people. People were encouraged and enabled to take positive risks. People’s independence was not restricted through risk assessments. Observations of people assessed as being at risk of falls showed them to be independently walking around the home. There were low incidences of accidents and incidents, those that had occurred had been recorded and were used to inform practice. For example, accidents and incidents were monitored and reviewed to identify trends and minimise reoccurrence.

People received their medicines on time and told us that if they were unwell and needed medicines that staff provided these. People were asked for their consent before being offered medicines and were supported appropriately, being offered a drink to take their medicine safely and comfortably. Medicines were administered by registered nurses whose competence was regularly assessed. There were safe systems in place for the storage, administration and disposal of medicines.

People were asked their consent before being supported with anything. Mental capacity assessments had been undertaken to ensure that for people who lacked capacity appropriate measures had been taken to ensure best interest decisions were made on their behalf. People’s right to refuse treatment or be involved in their plans of care were respected. Records showed that one person had refused to participate in plans for their end of life care.

People had access to relevant health professionals to maintain good health. People told us that if they were unwell that staff would call the Doctor. Records confirmed that external health professionals had been consulted in relation to people’s care to ensure that they were being provided with safe and effective care. For example, for one person the provider had sought advice from the local hospice. People’s clinical needs were assessed and met. People received good health care to maintain their health and well-being.

People felt that they had enough food and drink and observations confirmed that drinks and snacks were offered throughout the day to people. People could choose what they had to eat and drink and felt that the food was good. For people at risk of malnutrition, appropriate measures had been implemented to ensure they received drink supplements and that foods were fortified with cream, milk and cheese to increase their calorie intake.

People were cared for by staff who knew them and understood their needs and preferences. People told us that they felt well cared for. Results in an annual survey sent to health professionals showed that one professional had said “I would personally choose Compton House for myself, family and friends, should the need arise.”

People were involved in their care and decisions that related to this. People were asked their preferences when they first moved into the home. Regular reviews and residents meetings provided an opportunity for people to share their concerns and make comments about the care they received. Relatives confirmed that they were involved in their loved ones care and felt welcomed when they visited the home and knew who to go to if they had any concerns. The provider had not received any formal complaints, however there were various processes that people and their relatives could use to make their comments and concerns known. The provider welcomed feedback and was continually acting on feedback to drive improvements within the home.

People were treated with dignity, their rights and choices respected. Observations showed people being treated in a respectful and kind manner. People’s privacy was maintained, when staff offered assistance to people they did this in a discreet and sensitive way. People confirmed that they were treated with dignity and their privacy maintained, they told us “If they can respect your privacy, they do.”

Staff knew people’s preferences and support was provided to meet people’s needs, preferences and interests. There was a large variety of activities that were tailored to meet people’s needs. People were able to make suggestions as to how they wanted to spend their time and these were listened to and acted upon.

There was a homely, friendly and relaxed atmosphere within the home. People were complementary about the leadership and management of the home and observations confirmed that the vision and ethos of the home was embedded in staff’s practice. Staff felt supported by the registered manager and were able to develop in their roles. There were rigorous quality assurance processes in place that were carried out by the registered manager and provider to ensure that the quality of care provided, as well as the environment itself, was meeting the needs of people and delivered a service they had the right to expect.

At the time of our visit to Compton House Christian Nursing Home there were 25 people living there and the registered manager had been in post for five months. We spoke with five people using the service, visitors, staff, the manager, their deputy and the chairman of the board of trustees.

People said they were happy in the home and satisfied with their care. One person said “I hate to be away from home but if I have to, it’s marvellous here, they are so caring”. A relative told us “They look after my relative very well and I am made welcome at any time”.

We saw that staff were friendly and respectful in their approach and people were involved in making choices about their care. One person said “It's comfortable here, most staff are caring and listen to my views and respect my decisions”.

People said they felt safe and valued seeing their GP each week. We saw they had individualised care records and risk assessments in place which were reviewed regularly and helped staff meet their current needs.

The medication system was robust and people were supported to receive their medicines safely and as prescribed.

The recruitment and selection process ensured that all staff had the appropriate checks before starting work and undertook the relevant training.

There was an effective complaints system in place. People were supported to express their comments and complaints if they wished and any complaints were appropriately investigated and action taken if required.

We saw staff listening to and responding to people in a polite and courteous way, ensuring that they were given time to ask questions and respond at their own pace. Staff supported and gently encouraged people to eat and drink at their own pace. One person who used the service told us that "The food was very good, we get choices at all meal times."

People's needs were assessed and peoples likes and dislikes were identified including, the time they like to get up and go to bed, what they like to eat and drink and where to eat. We saw that there was a Christian reading group taking place and people were given the opportunity to attend if they so wished. We also saw that there was an activities plan that included things such as, visiting musicians, exercise class, Christian services and one to one time with volunteers.

One person we spoke to told us “I am going to the weekly art session this afternoon."

Staff we spoke to told us that they received regular supervision, one person said "The management team are very supportive" We saw that staff received regular training and updates.

The provider regularly assesses and monitors the quality of the service to protect people who used the service from the risk of inappropriate or unsafe care and treatment. Regular audits are carried out reviewing the key areas such as care plans, risk assessments, medication, accidents, incidents, compliments and complaints, fire safety and the building environment.