This comprehensive inspection took place on 23 May 2017 and was unannounced. We last inspected Hartland House in August 2014. At that inspection we found that the service met all of the essential standards we looked at.

Hartland House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 32 older people It is owned and operated by the Abbeyfield Lakeland Extra Care Society Limited, an affiliate of the national Abbeyfield charity, through a volunteer board of trustees. It is a detached two storey building with garden areas to sit in and private car parking. It is situated on the edge of the small market town of Milnthorpe. The home has a range of adaptations including a passenger lift to assist people to access the accommodation on the first floor.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the (CQC) 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.

During the inspection we saw there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet people’s needs and promote people’s safety.

Where safeguarding concerns or incidents had occurred these had been reported by the registered manager to the appropriate authorities and we could see records of the actions taken by the home to protect people.

When employing fit and proper persons the recruitment procedures had included all of the required checks of suitability.

We saw medicines were being administered and recorded appropriately and were being kept safely.

People’s rights were protected. The registered manager and staff team were knowledgeable about their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff had completed training that enabled them to improve their knowledge in order to deliver care and support safely.

People were supported to maintain good health and appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals were made.

We observed staff displayed caring and meaningful interactions with people and treated them with respect. We observed people’s dignity and privacy were actively promoted by the staff supporting them. People living in and visiting the home spoke highly of the staff and told us they were very happy with their care and support.

There was a clear management structure in place and staff were very happy with the level of support they received.

People living in the home were supported to be independent and access activities and pass times of their choice.

Auditing and quality monitoring systems were in place that allowed the service to demonstrate effectively the safety and quality of the home.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 23 May 2017 and was unannounced. We last inspected Hartland House in August 2014. At that inspection we found that the service met all of the essential standards we looked at.

Hartland House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 32 older people It is owned and operated by the Abbeyfield Lakeland Extra Care Society Limited, an affiliate of the national Abbeyfield charity, through a volunteer board of trustees. It is a detached two storey building with garden areas to sit in and private car parking. It is situated on the edge of the small market town of Milnthorpe. The home has a range of adaptations including a passenger lift to assist people to access the accommodation on the first floor.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the (CQC) 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.

During the inspection we saw there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet people’s needs and promote people’s safety.

Where safeguarding concerns or incidents had occurred these had been reported by the registered manager to the appropriate authorities and we could see records of the actions taken by the home to protect people.

When employing fit and proper persons the recruitment procedures had included all of the required checks of suitability.

We saw medicines were being administered and recorded appropriately and were being kept safely.

People’s rights were protected. The registered manager and staff team were knowledgeable about their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff had completed training that enabled them to improve their knowledge in order to deliver care and support safely.

People were supported to maintain good health and appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals were made.

We observed staff displayed caring and meaningful interactions with people and treated them with respect. We observed people’s dignity and privacy were actively promoted by the staff supporting them. People living in and visiting the home spoke highly of the staff and told us they were very happy with their care and support.

There was a clear management structure in place and staff were very happy with the level of support they received.

People living in the home were supported to be independent and access activities and pass times of their choice.

Auditing and quality monitoring systems were in place that allowed the service to demonstrate effectively the safety and quality of the home.

People told us they were very happy living in Hartland House. Comments included,

“The care here is very good and I am well looked after”.

“I am so happy here and the staff are lovely. Have you tasted the mince pies?”.

“The staff encourage me to do things for myself which I like as I want to remain as independent as possible”.

We saw that people were able to join in meaningful and sociable activities if they wished. Staff were pleasant and polite and we saw that people who used the service and their visitors were treated with respect and dignity.

We found that people’s care and support needs had been assessed and kept under regular review to help ensure people received the care they needed. We saw that people had access to health and social care professionals. The people we spoke with told us they received the help they needed when they needed it and that staff did encourage them to remain as independent as possible.

There were clear policies and procedures in place for medicines handling and storage. Medicines records were up to date and regularly checked to ensure medicines were administered correctly.

We found that all the records pertaining to the operation of the service were in place and up to date with current legislation.

We spoke with some of the people living in the home and one said, “I only came for a short time and it is so nice I decided to stay”. One person commented, “I think everything is marvellous. No one comes into my room without knocking first as they say this is my home.”

We found good standards of care and support were delivered in a warm and caring manner and that people were relaxed in their surroundings. Records were up to date and reviewed regularly.

People spoken with felt that their privacy, dignity and independence were promoted.They told us they felt safe living in the home and that they would be able to voice concerns, if they had any, without feeling uncomfortable.These values were underpinned by the essential training that staff had received. People spoke very positively of the staff team describing them as, “Helpful and kind.”

People living at Hartland House told us the care provided in the home was “Excellent” and said they and their families were included in making all decisions about their lives in the home.

People said they enjoyed the meals provided in the home and took part in a range of activities of their choosing.

People told us:

“You get plenty of choice and if you don’t like what’s on the menu the cook will always make you something else.”

“The staff are all lovely, you couldn’t ask for better.”

“You couldn’t do anything to improve this place.”