This unannounced inspection took place on 12 October 2016. We last inspected this service on 24 June 2013 under the regulations that were in force at that time. We found that the provider met all the regulations during that inspection.

The provider, Cumbria County Council, was re-registered in October 2015 and this is the first inspection since the re-registration process was completed.

The original building in Appleby was flooded in December 2015 and it was necessary to move the people who lived in the home to new accommodation. The people moved to a dormant home in Penrith which has since been re-registered as home to provide care and accommodation for up to 17 older people some of whom may be living with dementia.

There was a registered manager in post on the day of our 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.

People who used this service were safe. The staff knew how to identify if a person was at risk of abuse and the action to take to protect people from harm. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and measures put in place to manage any hazards identified.

People were protected by staff who knew how to keep them safe and managed individual risks well. Staffing levels were appropriate which meant there was sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and support their independence. Extra staff were being recruited in order to support people who needs were becoming more complex.

The registered manager and the staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Staff had been recruited following a thorough recruitment process and they were clear about their responsibility to promptly report any concerns or safeguarding issues. Staff were well trained in subjects appropriate to their roles in the staff team.

People had access to external health care services which ensured their health care needs were met. Staff had completed training in safe handling of medicines and the medicines administration records were up to date. Protocols were in place for the receipt and disposal of all medicines that came into the home.

People were provided with sufficient food and drink in order to maintain good levels of nutrition and hydration. We saw that drinks and snacks were available throughout the day.

There were some activities organised for those people who lived in Edenside but these were limited. We have made a recommendation that the registered manager considers organising some more activities and entertainment.

We saw that people were included in decisions about their care and were supported to maintain their independence and control over their lives. People’s privacy and dignity were respected at all times and they had access to an advocacy service if this was necessary. People had their care and support needs kept under review. Staff responded quickly when people’s needs changed, which helped to ensure their individual needs were met.

The provider had a system in place for dealing with any complaints or concerns. There had been no complaints received since the last inspection.

The home was managed by a registered manager who was experienced and qualified to run the service. Staff felt well supported by a registered manager who promoted strong values and a person centred culture. Staff said they were pleased to work in such a good home and were supported in understanding the values of the organisation. There was an appropriate internal quality audit system in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.