This inspection took place on 22 March 2017 and was an unannounced inspection.

The Owls Care Home provides personal care for a maximum of 15 people living with dementia. The accommodation comprises of eleven single bedrooms and two double bedrooms, with some en-suite facilities, over two floors. There are two lounges and a dining area. A passenger lift provides access to the first floor. Rear gardens enable a safe outdoor area for residents in good weather. The home is located in a residential area of Blackpool.

At the time of the inspection visit 14 people lived at the home.

This is The Owls first inspection since the change of provider and the new provider’s registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 2 June 2016.

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.

Although a number of people had limited verbal communication and were unable to converse with us, we were able to speak with other people about their experience of the home and any improvements they would like.

We spoke with five people who lived at the home and a relative. People told us they felt safe and well looked after at The Owls. The registered provider had procedures to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. Staff were familiar with these and had received training in safeguarding adults. They told us they would take prompt action to ensure people’s safety where they became aware of or suspected a safeguarding concern.

People we spoke with said staff were kind and caring and assisted them promptly. They said staff were polite and respectful and supported them to remain as independent as they could be.

Staff knew the care people needed, which showed us they were familiar with people’s care needs, and preferences. People said their health needs were met promptly.

We looked at how the home was staffed. We saw there were enough staff to provide safe care and social and leisure activities.

Staff recognised the importance of social contact, companionship and activities. They engaged in frequent conversations with people and encouraged them to get involved in activities.

Staff managed medicines safely. People told us staff gave them their medicines when they needed them. We saw they were given as prescribed and stored and disposed of correctly.

The environment was maintained, clean and hygienic when we visited.

The new provider had renovated the home externally and refurbished most of the inside of the home. It made the home bright and cheerful.

Recruitment and selection was carried out safely with appropriate checks made before new staff started working in the home. This reduced the risk of employing unsuitable people. Staff had been trained in care and had the skills and knowledge to provide support to the people they cared for.

People told us they were offered a varied choice of meals which were tasty and plentiful. Drinks were available throughout the day and people’s dietary and fluid intake was sufficient for good nutrition.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This enabled staff to work within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

Care plans were personalised, involved people and where appropriate their relatives and were regularly reviewed.

People told us they knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint if they were unhappy with something. They said staff were easy to talk to. People told us staff encouraged them to make suggestions and express any ideas or concerns.

There were procedures to monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager sought peo