This inspection took place on the 11 July 2017 and was unannounced.

Raunds Lodge Nursing Home provides accommodation for older people with physical and dementia care needs. The service can accommodate up to 33 people, at the time of the inspection 30 people were using the service.

At the last inspection, in August 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.

The service is required to have 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. A registered manager was not in post at the time of the inspection; however, there was a manager who was in the process of applying to be the registered manager.

People continued to receive safe care. Staff were appropriately recruited and people were protected from the risk of harm and received their prescribed medicines safely.

The care that people received continued to be effective. Staff had access to the support, supervision, training and on-going professional development that they required to work effectively in their roles. People were supported to maintain good health and nutrition.

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 home supported this practice.

People were treated with respect, kindness and empathy; they had developed positive relationships with the staff that were caring. People had detailed personalised care plans in place which enabled staff to provide consistent care and support in line with people’s personal preferences. End of life plans had been sensitively developed; people and their families could be assured that their wishes were followed.

People knew how to raise a concern or make a complaint and the provider had implemented effective systems to manage any complaints that they may receive.

The service had a positive ethos and an open culture. The manager and provider were committed to develop the service and actively looked at ways to improve the service. There were effective quality assurance systems and audits in place; action was taken to address any shortfalls.

This inspection took place on the 4th August 2015 and was unannounced.

The service is registered to provide care for up to 33 older people. The service provides care to older people with a variety of needs including the care of people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people living there.

There was a registered manager in post at the time 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.

There were appropriate recruitment processes in place and people felt safe in the home. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and knew how to respond if they had any concerns.

Staff were supported through regular supervisions and undertook training which focussed on helping them to understand the needs of the people they were supporting. People were involved in decisions about the way in which their care and support was provided. Staff understood the need to undertake specific assessments where people lacked capacity to consent to their care and / or their day to day routines. People’s health care and nutritional needs were carefully considered and relevant health care professionals were appropriately involved in people’s care.

People received care from staff that were kind, compassionate and respectful. Their needs were assessed prior to coming to the home and individualised care plans were in place and were kept under review. Staff had taken care to understand peoples likes, dislikes and past life’s and enabled people to participate in activities either within groups or on an individual basis.

People were cared for by staff who were respectful of their dignity and who demonstrated an understanding of each person’s needs. This was evident in the way staff spoke to people and the activities they engaged in with individuals. Relatives spoke positively about the care their relative was receiving and felt that they could approach management and staff to discuss any issues or concerns they had.

There were a variety of audits in place and action was taken to address any shortfalls. Management was visible and open to feedback, actively looking at ways to improve and develop the service for both the people living in the service and people in the community.

People who used the service told us that they liked living at the home. A person who used the service we spoke with told us "The staff are brilliant and really kind." Another resident said " It is really nice here I don't want to go anywhere else

A relative said "The move to this home was the best thing for xxx, he is really cared for the staff are really good and most of all care."

We found the home enabled persons who used the service to maintain their individuality and independence. We saw that they were treated with dignity and respect.

We did however note that on entry to the home there was a strong smell of urine coming from a room on the ground floor used by a person who used the service. We also noted that on the first floor there was a wet room that at present was not serviceable and that it had a wood framed window.

The people that could speak to us said that they loved living at the home and that the care workers made them feel comfortable and safe. They were happy with the way the care workers supported them and they assured us that they were treated with dignity and respect.

We observed people being supported throughout the day of our visit. Care workers were actively involved in assisting people with meals and drinks. We saw care workers actively assisting residents with recreational activities.

One of the relatives we spoke with told us, "they give excellent care, nothing wrong, I find it is wonderful, the staff are all excellent." A person who used the service told us "I have been here for over two and a half years, they really look after me, it is all very good." Another person told us "they really look after me, they support me, they are really good."

People we spoke with told us “this is a very nice home” and they had meetings with staff. They told us that the food was very good and they had activities, and celebrated special events. One person told us “they all care and all carers are very nice, they talk and listen to me”.