Honeysuckle House is registered to provide 24 hour care and accommodate to twenty-five older people. The home specialises in providing care for people who have dementia. It is situated in close proximity of Blackpool promenade and local facilities such as shops, tram routes and other community facilities. The home has two lounges and a large dining area. Bedrooms are located on the ground and upper floors. There is a small parking area for visitors at the front of the building. At the time of our inspection visit there were 21 people who lived at the home.

At the last inspection carried out on 17 May 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last 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.

Although a number of people had limited verbal communication and were unable to converse with us, we were able to speak with one person who lived at the home. They told us they were happy and supported by staff who cared for them and treated them well. We also spoke with a visiting relative who told us they loved visiting the home and found staff really friendly and welcoming. The person said, “[Relative] receives excellent care.”

Throughout the inspection we observed staff being kind and attentive to people in their care. We saw they were caring, patient and engaged people in conversation whilst providing their support.

We saw staff were always in attendance in communal areas and available when people needed their help.

Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.

The service had sufficient staffing levels in place to provide support people required. We saw staff showed concern for people’s wellbeing and responded quickly when people required their help. Staff spoken with told us they were able to spend time with people in their care meeting their social needs.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. Medication practices observed protected people from unsafe management of their medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed and when needed and appropriate records had been completed.

People’s care and support had been planned with them and was person centred. Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. We saw people had consented to their care and treatment and where appropriate family members who had the legal authority to do so.

We looked around the building and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required. The design of the building and facilities provided were appropriate for the care and support provided.

This inspection visit took place on 17 May 2016 and was unannounced.

At the last inspection on 14 November 2013 the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations that were inspected at that time.

Honeysuckle House is registered for the regulated activity providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. The service can accommodate a maximum of twenty five older people of whose primary care needs are those of persons who live with dementia. The communal space provides two lounges and a large dining room. There is a small parking area for visitors at the front of the building. The home is situated in close proximity of Blackpool promenade and local facilities such as shops, tram routes and other community facilities. At the time of our inspection visit there were 24 people who lived at the home.

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.

We found the registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

The registered manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

The environment was maintained, clean and hygienic when we visited. No offensive odours were observed by the inspector. Hand sanitiser dispensers were prominently placed around the home for the use of staff involved in the delivery of personal care.

We found recruitment procedures were safe with appropriate checks undertaken before new staff members commenced their employment. Staff spoken with and records seen confirmed a structured induction training and development programme was in place.

Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.

We found sufficient staffing levels were in place to provide support people required. We saw staff members could undertake tasks supporting people without feeling rushed. One person visiting the home said, “Always plenty of staff on duty when I visit. They are always available if you need them.”

We found equipment used by staff to support people had been maintained and serviced to ensure they were safe for use.

Care plans were organised and had identified the care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.

We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. One person visiting the home said, “They are very quick to get the doctor if [relative] is unwell. Always up date so I know what is going on.”

We found medication procedures at the home were safe. Staff responsible for the administration of medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. Medicines were safely kept with appropriate arrangements for storing in place.

People were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. Regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration. The cook had information about people’s dietary needs and these were being met.

People visiting the home told us they were happy with their relatives care. One person said, “[Relative] c

During our inspection we looked at staff training records, staff supervision arrangements, the services complaints procedure and quality monitoring procedures. We did this because we wanted to identify that appropriate arrangements were in place to support staff members. We also wanted to ensure people using the service felt listened to.

We spoke with people visiting the home and staff throughout the inspection. We observed the quality of care and support provided by staff during the inspection.

We found care plan records were up to date and people were happy with the service they were receiving. We found people were being supported by staff who had been trained and appropriate support arrangements were in place for them. Good care practices were observed and people told us they were happy with their relatives care. One person said, “I used to visit a friend who lived at this home. I was so impressed with his care I didn’t consider anywhere else when my husband became poorly. As an ex nurse I know good care when I see it”.

During our inspection we contacted the Blackpool contracts monitoring team. They told us there was presently one open safeguarding concern waiting to be dealt with by their safeguarding team.

At the time of our inspection the provider did not have a registered manager in post. The provider told us she was in the process of completing an application to become the registered manager.

During our inspection we spoke with some people and observed staff delivering personal care support. We saw people were treated with respect and dignity. We were told the staff team provided sensitive and flexible personal care support and they felt well cared for. The people we spoke with said they had no concerns about their relatives care.

We saw sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to be responsive to the needs of the people in their care.

“The staff are brilliant in my opinion. They attend to my relative with great patience and care. I honestly believe he couldn’t receive better care anywhere”.

“I am so pleased my relative is in this home. The provider and her staff are the best”.

“I have absolutely nothing to complain about. The staff are excellent. Couldn’t possibly give them a bad report”.

“He always looks so smart and clean when I visit. I made a good choice of home”.

People told us they are kept up to date about the health and personal care needs of their relatives and are fully involved in decision making regarding their care. People who use the service told us the staff were very kind and treated them well. They told us they felt safe and liked living at the home.

"I am fully involved in my husbands care and encouraged to express my views and participate in decisions about the support being provided".

"I am always made welcome when I visit. My husband is always clean and well presented. The staff are very caring and attentive. I never leave worrying about him. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the home to anyone".

"I have just had lunch which I enjoyed as always"

"If anything you get too much to eat. Still you can always leave what you don't want".

"We are very lucky as the food is very good".

The home is always lovely and clean"

"I was very impressed when I looked around that there was no offensive smells. The home always smells fresh and clean when I visit".

"The staff are very attentive, kind and helpful".

"They respond very quickly if needed".

Public Protection Officers representing the Health and Safety and Environmental Health Sections of Blackpool Council’s Quality Services Directorate told us the building was well maintained, kitchen and bathrooms were clean and equipment being used by the staff such as hoists etc were well maintained and in good working order when they last visited.

Blackpool Council’s Contracts Monitoring Team told us they had no issues with the service being provided by home following their recent visit.