What life is like for people using the service:

People were not always kept safe. People were not always kept safe due to environmental risk factors not being managed effectively.

Staff were well trained and training was kept up to date and monitored by the registered manager. Staff knew people who they cared for well and were aware of their likes and dislikes. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and provided care relevant to their needs.

Staff showed a genuine motivation to deliver care based on people’s preferences and likes. People were observed to have a good relationship with the staff team.

The provider supported staff in providing effective care for people through person centred care planning, however supervision was not being carried out on a regular basis. The registered manager was starting to make some positive changes to systems and processes.

People had good healthcare support from professionals. When staff noticed a concern they involved healthcare professionals, this included support in nutrition and pressure care.

The registered manager started in November 2018 and had not received the support or training to give them the skills and knowledge on all aspects of the role. However, they were passionate about care and keeping people safe from avoidable harm. They had also formed good relationships with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. People spoke highly of the registered manager and were comfortable discussing anything, being assured that any concerns would be taken seriously and resolved where possible.

Most of the service of equipment was carried out within timescales and checked regularly. However, some safety checks were not. This posed a risk to the overall safety of the home.

About the service:

St Martins is a care home that provides personal care for up to 21 people, some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 10 people living at the service. Most people were living at the service permanently and some spent short periods there for respite.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned comprehensive inspection which was unannounced. This was the first inspection at St Martins since it was registered in September 2017 by the current provider.