The inspection took place on 11 and 12 April 2017 and was unannounced on the first day. This was the first inspection of a new service that was registered by CQC in June 2016. The service is registered to provide accommodation and nursing or personal care for up to 55 people and 25 people were living there, or having a short stay there, at the time of the inspection.

The home is a converted and extended four-storey property set in its own grounds in a residential area overlooking the Dee Estuary in Heswall, Wirral. There were bedrooms on the ground, first and second floors, however the second floor was unoccupied at the time of the inspection. Communal areas were provided on each of these floors, with staff and service areas on the third floor.

The home had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 enough qualified and experienced staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. The required checks had been carried out when new staff were recruited and all staff had received induction training before they commenced employment.

We found that the home was clean and well maintained and records we looked at showed that regular health and safety checks were carried out. All areas were furnished and decorated to a very high standard and people had a choice of comfortable sitting areas both indoors and outdoors.

Medicines were managed safely and records confirmed that people always received the medication prescribed by their doctor.

Where appropriate, applications had been made to the local authority for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were very happy with their meals and told us that choices were always available.

The members of staff we spoke with had good knowledge of the support needs of the people who lived at the home. The staff we met had a cheerful and caring manner and they treated people with respect. People who lived at the home and visitors who we spoke with expressed their satisfaction with the care provided and with the staff.

The care plans we looked at gave information about people’s care needs and how their needs were met. They also gave detailed information about people’s individual choices and preferences.

There was a friendly, open and inclusive culture in the home and people we met during our visits spoke highly of the home manager. Quality audits were completed and identified where improvements were needed.