The Tudors Care Home is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The Tudors Care Home accommodates 44 people in one adapted building. At the time of our unannounced inspection there were 41 older people, some of whom were living with dementia.

This inspection took place on the 18 April 2018 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of this service since their CQC registration changed in May 2017.

The service had 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.

Staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Staff knew how to report any suspicions of poor care practice and, or harm. Information and guidance about how to report concerns were available for staff, people and visitors to the service to refer to.

People were assisted to take their medication as prescribed. Processes were in place and followed by staff members to ensure that infection prevention and control was promoted and the risk of cross contamination was reduced as far as possible.

There were building adaptations in place to help people with limited mobility. This meant that people could access all of the services internal areas and the garden.

Staff assisted people in a kind, patient and respectful way. Staff knew people’s personal histories and cultural backgrounds well and worked with people to make them feel ‘at home,’ and to promote a person-centred culture at the service. Staff were sensitive to times when people needed caring and compassionate support. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and promoted by the staff members supporting them.

People and their relatives’ were given the opportunity to be involved in the setting up and review of their individual support and care plans. People’s equality, diversity and human rights were embedded in the service provided.

Staff actively encouraged and empowered people to maintain their interests, develop new interests and, be involved in the running of the service. Staff also supported people take part in activities and maintain links with the local community to promote social inclusion. People were assisted to maintain their life skills with assistance from staff to promote their independence. People’s friends and family were encouraged by staff to visit the service and were made to feel very welcome.

People were supported and encouraged by staff to have enough to eat and drink. People were assisted to access a range of external health care professionals and were supported by staff to maintain their health and well-being.

People were supported by staff and external health care professionals, when required, at the end of their life, to have a comfortable and as dignified a death as possible.

People had individualised care and support plans in place which documented their needs. These plans informed and prompted staff on how a person would like their care and support to be given, in line with external health care professional advice and guidance.

Individual risks to people were identified before they moved into the service and were monitored by staff. Plans were put into place to minimise people’s risks as far as practicable to allow them to live as independent and safe a life as possible.

The registered manager had a recruitment process in place. Staff were