The Cambridgeshire Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The Cambridgeshire Care Home is registered to provide nursing and personal care and accommodation for up to 72 people. At the time of the inspection there 40 people living in the home.

The accommodation is a purpose built building split over three floors.

This unannounced inspection took place over two days, 10 and 11 January 2018. This was the first inspection of the home since it was registered with the commission on 19 December 2016.

At the time of the 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.

Staff were aware of how to keep people safe from harm and what procedures they should follow to report any harm. However the staff had not always followed the procedure to report unexplained bruising so that it could be investigated. The registered manager took immediate action to identify and investigate any cases of unexplained bruising.

The management of medicines was regularly audited to highlight any areas for improvement. Staff received training and competency checks before administering medicines unsupervised. Medicines were stored securely.

Action had been taken to minimise the risks to people. Risk assessments identified risks and provided staff with the information they needed to reduce risks were possible.

Staff were only employed after they completed a thorough recruitment procedure. There were enough staff on shift to ensure that people had their needs met in a timely manner. Staff received the training they required to meet people's needs and were supported in their roles.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice

Staff were motivated to provide care that was kind and compassionate. They knew people well and were aware of their history, preferences, likes and dislikes. People's privacy and dignity were respected.

People were supported to maintain good health as staff had the knowledge and skills to support them. There was prompt access to external healthcare professionals when needed.

People were provided with a choice of food and drink that they enjoyed. Meal times were also a sociable event when people enjoyed each other’s company.

There was a varied programme of activities including activities held in the service, one-to-one activities and entertainers that came into the home.

Care plans gave staff the information they required to meet people’s care and support needs. People received support in the way that they preferred and met their individual needs.

There was a complaints procedure in place. People and their relatives felt confident to raise any concerns either with the staff or registered manager. Complaints had been dealt with appropriately.

There was an effective quality assurance process in place which included obtaining the views of people that lived in the home, their relatives and the staff. Where needed action had been taken to make improvements to the service being offered.