Stanecroft

This report summarises the findings from a recent inspection of Stanecroft, a care home providing accommodation and nursing care for up to 50 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. The inspection focused on assessing the quality of care and services provided across five key areas. Overall, the inspection found that significant progress has been made since the previous assessment, with efforts to foster a more open and personalised approach to care. The provider has been actively involved in supporting the management team, leading to positive developments in various aspects of the home's operation.

On safety, the home was found to be secure, with robust measures in place to protect residents from abuse and harm. Staff are well-trained in safeguarding and understand their responsibilities. The environment is kept clean, and infection control procedures are managed appropriately. There are sufficient staff numbers to ensure residents are safely supported, and appropriate checks are conducted during the recruitment process. Medicines are handled and administered safely, and there is a growing culture of learning from incidents.

In terms of how effective the care is, staff receive ongoing training, which has improved their confidence and competence. Residents are well supported with their nutrition and hydration needs. Care plans are personalised, and staff have a better understanding of residents' capacity and legal rights, ensuring consent is obtained appropriately. The home is also undergoing improvements to its design to better support individuals living with dementia. However, there was a noted challenge with staff deployment on one unit which was difficult for staff to provide consistently effective support. Additionally, while food quality is good, portion sizes were observed to be too large for some, and there are ongoing training needs for kitchen staff, particularly agency staff, regarding specialist dietary requirements.

The service is caring, with staff described as kind and compassionate. Residents are involved in decisions about their care, and staff demonstrate a good understanding of individual preferences. Care is delivered in a way that respects residents' privacy and dignity.

Regarding how responsive the service is, residents experience a personalised approach to care, with staff adapting to their changing needs. There are more opportunities for residents to engage in activities they enjoy, and staff interact with them meaningfully. End-of-life wishes are respected, and systems are in place to ensure residents' concerns are heard and acted upon, leading to improvements in care quality.

On being well-led, the provider has a clear vision for high-quality care and is providing significant regional support to mentor the management team. The culture is becoming more open, with improved partnership working between staff and management. There are increased opportunities for residents and their representatives to provide input. However, new ways of working and learning processes need to be fully embedded and proactively implemented to ensure the service continues to move forward effectively.