1 – We looked around the building which was clean and free of unpleasant odours

2 – The rooms were personalised with photographs, TV’s and pictures.

3 – We saw staff treating people in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner.

4 – All the people we saw looked happy living at Amberley Lodge Care Home. People told us that it was a nice place, and that the staff were good. One person said the food was good and another said they always get a lot of vegetables and that they were ‘very lucky’.

5 – We saw that care plans were person centre and people’s care assessments looked at people’s goals and the support they required. Care plans had details of people’s likes and dislikes.

6 – We saw written information about the needs of people that lived at the home which helped the staff to provide the help and support that each individual required. This was documented in people’s records. We saw people’s wishes and preferences in relation to the care being provided and how they liked to be supported

7 – We observed staff respected people’s privacy, before they entered a person’s bedroom staff would knock. The rooms were personalised with photographs, TV’s and pictures.

8 – Staff told us that they talk with people and treat people as individuals and would ask people what they wanted to that they could promote choice.

9 – The home had a four week menu; the menu for the week was varied, with people being given choices for at breakfast, lunch and supper time. The menu for the week was on display. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and how the food should be presented for example soft or pureed. We saw peoples fluid and food intake being recorded where this was being monitored.

10 – At lunch time we observed that people were not rushed and saw staff explaining to people that they were putting on clothing protectors and assisting people. People told us that they the food was good. Another person told us they always have a lot of vegetables. One person told us that the chef was aware of what they can eat. Hot and cold drinks were available throughout the day.

11 – We looked at two care plans as well as the daily notes for these two individuals. The care plans were person centre. People’s assessment of care needs looked at their goals and support required. All aspects of people’s care needs were reviewed for example personnel hygiene and grooming, mobility, nutrition, eating and drinking. The plans were reviewed by the senior staff on a regular basis within put from staff.

12 – Risk assessments had been completed and reviewed regularly, and they were used to inform the care plans. These included strategies about how risks would be managed for example moving and handling, bed rails, nutrition and falls. This demonstrates that people experience effective and safe support that met their needs.

13 – People’s records had details of relatives, representative or other professionals involved in their Care. Any visits by or too healthcare professionals were recorded to show how people’s healthcare needs were being met. Communication with people’s relatives was also recorded. This demonstrates that the home involve appropriate professionals in the relation to people’s care.

14 – The care logs were used by staff to record and comment on how people had spent the day, what care had been provided for example whether people had bathed or showered; what people had eaten and drank and any activities that they had participated in. Staff informed us that there were regular handover meetings when the shifts changed and a meeting mid morning with senior staff to ensure that staff were all kept up to date with any changes to people’s care.

15 – Each person had a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) with guidance for staff in how to respond in case of an emergency. This demonstrates that the home has in place arrangements for dealing with foreseeable emergencies.

16 – We spoke with two members of staff about their understanding of safeguarding people who use their service from abuse. They were able to tell us about the different types of abuse and where able to describe what behaviours someone may display if they were being abused. Staff were aware that they should report any concerns and in the managers absence they would contact the local authority safeguarding.

17 – The home had a training programme which ensured that staff training had been kept up to date. We looked at staff training records and saw certificates and records of training attended by staff. Staff had been trained in for example manual handling, health and safety, food safety, fire safety, pressure care awareness, infection control, safeguarding vulnerable people and mental capacity act and deprivation of liberty.

18 – Nursing staff had also attended training that was specific to the needs of the people living in the home that included Person centred planning and risk assessment, and management of safeguarding issues. Some staff also had National Vocational Qualifications in health and social care. Staff we spoke with said they had attended training and felt they had the skills needed to meet people’s needs. This demonstrates that staff are able to acquire further skills and qualifications that are relevant to the work they undertake.

19 – We asked the proprietor how they monitored the quality of the home and we were told that the home has a number of systems in place. The home undertook and recorded a number of checks; which included checking the water temperatures in all bathrooms and showers weekly, health and safety and fire safety checks. The proprietor also informed us they monitor all incident and accident report on a regular basis to check for common themes