Ocean Swell is a residential 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. Ocean Swell accommodates up to 32 older people in one adapted building. There were 31 people using the service at the time of our inspection.

Rating at last inspection

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and 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.

Rating at this inspection

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

At the last inspection in December 2015 we recommended the provider seek advice and guidance from a reputable source, about writing care plans in relation to peoples’ specific needs. At this inspection we found that the provider had acted on our recommendation and people’s care plans contained detailed guidance to staff about their needs and wishes.

The management team had oversight of the service. They checked all areas of the service regular to make sure it met the standards they required. The provider worked to continually improve the care people received and had supported staff to continually develop their skills to meet people’s needs.

Staff felt supported by the management team, they were motivated and enthusiastic about their roles. A member of the management team was always available to provide the support and guidance staff needed. Staff worked together to support people to be as independent as they wanted to be. All the staff we spoke with told us they would be happy for their relatives to live at Ocean Swell. Records in respect of each person were accurate, complete and kept secure.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people with dignity and respect. They had taken time to get to know each person well and provide the care they wanted in the way they preferred. People received the care and support they wanted at the end of their life.

Assessments of people’s needs and any risks had been completed and care had been planned with them and their relatives, to meet their needs and preferences and keep them safe. Staff knew the signs of abuse and were confident to raise any concerns they had with the management team. People were not discriminated against and received care tailored to them. Complaints were investigated and responded to. People had enough to do during the day, including regular trips out.

Changes in people’s health were identified quickly and staff contacted their health care professionals for support. People’s medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines in the ways their healthcare professional had prescribed. People were offered a balanced diet of food they liked and that met their cultural needs and preferences.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. The registered manager knew when assessments of people’s capacity to make decisions were needed. Information was available to people in a way their understood to help them make decisions and choices. Staff treated people with dignity and gave them privacy.

There were enough staff to provide the care and support people needed when they wanted it. Staff were recruited safely and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records checks had been completed. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and worked as a team to meet people’s needs.

The service and equipment were clean and well maintained. The building had b

This inspection was carried out on 15 and 16 December 2015 and was unannounced.

Ocean Swell provides accommodation for up to 32 older people or people with physical disabilities, who need support with their personal care. The service is a converted hotel. Accommodation is arranged over three floors. A lift is available to assist people to get to the upper floors. The service has 18 single bedrooms and 7 double bedrooms, which people can choose to share. Seven of the bedrooms have ensuite toilets or bathrooms. There were 30 people living at the service at the time of our inspection.

A registered manager was leading the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the care and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were treated with dignity and respect at all times. For example, staff explained the care and support people would receive before they received it and asked them what they would like staff to do and when.

The manager provided strong leadership to the staff and had oversight of all areas of the service. Staff were motivated and felt supported by the manager and other senior staff. The staff team had a clear vision of the aims of the service. Staff told us the manager was approachable and they were confident to raise any concerns they had with them.

There were enough staff, who knew people well, to meet their needs at all times. The needs of the people had been considered when deciding how many staff were required on each shift. Staff had the time and skills to provide the care and support people needed. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and worked as a team to meet people’s needs.

Staff recruitment systems were in place and information about staff had been obtained to make sure staff did not pose a risk to people. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records checks had been completed. The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and helps prevent unsuitable people from working with people who use care and support services.

Staff were supported to provide good quality care and support. The manager had a plan in place to keep staff skills up to date. Most staff held recognised qualifications in care. Staff met regularly with the manager to discuss their role and practice and any concerns they had.

Staff knew the signs of possible abuse and were confident to raise concerns they had with the manager, senior staff or the local authority safeguarding team. Plans were in place to keep people safe in an emergency. Equipment was in place to evacuate people safely and staff had the skills to use it confidently.

People’s needs had been assessed to identify the care they required. Care and support was planned with people and reviewed to keep people safe and support them to be as independent as possible. Detailed guidance had not been provided to staff about how to provide all areas of the care and support people needed, however people received consistent care as staff knew them well. We have made a recommendation about care plan records.

People were given the medicines they needed to keep them safe and well. Some people managed their own medicines. Action was taken to identify changes in people’s health, including regular health checks. People were supported by staff to receive the care they needed to keep them as safe and well as possible.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Arrangements were in place to check if people at risk of being deprived of their liberty and applications had been made to the supervisory body when they were necessary.

Consent to care had been

People who used the service told us what it was like to live at this service and described how they were treated by staff and their involvement in making choices about their care.

People said that they were happy with the care and support they received and that their needs were being met in all areas. They said that the staff treated them with respect, listened to them and supported them to raise any concerns they had about their care. People told us that the service responded to their health needs quickly and that the manager talked to them regularly about their plan of care and any changes that may be needed.

We reviewed the arrangements with regard to the storage and administration of medication and no concerns were found. Infection control and cleanliness of the service was also reviewed and the service was found to be meeting with the regulations. Systems were also in place to monitor the service.

Many comments received were complimentary of the service. One lady said “It’s lovely here” another said “We go out for day trips in the minibus. I love it here”. Other people were complimentary of the food and had no concerns re the quality of care. A relative said “This is one of the better homes in Thanet. I am very happy my Mum is here”.

People who use the service told us what it was like to live at this service and described how they were treated by staff and their involvement in making choices about their care. They also told us about the quality of food and drink available.

People said that they were happy with the care and support they received and that their needs were being met in all areas. They said that the staff treated them with respect, listened to them and supported them to raise any concerns they had about their care. People told us that the service responded to their health needs quickly and that the manager talked to them regularly about their plan of care and any changes that may be needed.

Many comments received were complimentary of the service. One gentleman said “It’s lovely here” another said “We go out for day drips in the minibus. I love it here”. Other people were complimentary of the food and had no concerns with regard to the quality of care.

People told us that they were happy with the care and support they were receiving and that their needs were being met in all areas. They said that the staff treated them with respect, listened to them and supported them to raise any concerns they had about their care. People told us that the service responded to their health needs quickly and that the manager talked to them regularly about their plan of care and any changes that may be needed.