165 Point Clear Road

This report details an inspection of 165 Point Clear Road, a residential care home. The inspection focused on how the service operates across five key areas: safety, effectiveness of care, how caring the staff are, responsiveness to residents' needs, and leadership. While the home received positive feedback in certain areas, particularly regarding the compassionate nature of the staff and their responsiveness, areas for improvement were identified in other crucial aspects. The report aims to provide families with a clear overview of the findings, highlighting both strengths and areas where the service needs to develop.

On safety, the home did not consistently maintain a safe and clean environment, with some areas and equipment found to be not adequately clean or well-maintained, and not all staff were observed to use personal protective equipment effectively. Potential risks to residents' safety were not always identified and acted upon promptly, and cleaning substances were not always stored safely. In terms of how effective the care is, improvements were needed to ensure all staff completed mandatory and refresher training to keep their skills current, and some areas of the home showed signs of wear and tear. However, staff were reported to have good knowledge of residents' individual needs and preferences, and they supported residents to maintain a balanced diet and access healthcare services effectively.

When considering how caring the service is, residents received kind and compassionate care, with one relative describing the staff as "the kindest people ever." Staff were knowledgeable about residents' individual needs, and communication was effective, allowing residents to understand information given to them. In terms of responsiveness, the service enabled residents to have maximum choice and control of their lives, supporting them in the least restrictive way possible, and policies supported this practice. Residents and those important to them were involved in planning care, and staff valued and acted upon their views.

Regarding how well-led the service is, oversight and quality assurance arrangements required improvement. While staff felt confident that concerns would be acted upon, and management was aware of their safeguarding responsibilities, issues with the robustness of monitoring systems and the consistent application of policies were noted. The provider was in the process of improving recruitment processes, and while residents' profiles were accessible, ensuring all necessary checks were completed was an ongoing focus.