27 February 2016
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 27 February 2016 and was unannounced. There were no breaches of regulation at the last inspection on 24 September 2014.
Craven House Oakdene provides care and support for up to 4 people who have a learning disability. The home is situated in a single story building with disabled access. All bedrooms are single and two have en-suite facilities. The lounge and dining room are spacious and comfortable and within easy access of the all the bedrooms.
The home has 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.
We found people were cared for and supported by sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Robust recruitment procedures were in place to make sure suitable staff worked with people who used the service and staff completed an induction when they started work. Staff received the training and support required to meet people’s needs. Staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff ensured that people were supported to make decisions about their care. People were cared for in line with current legislation and they were consulted about choices as much as possible.
Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what to do to keep people safe. Relatives we spoke with also told us they thought people were safe at the home. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines safely.
People’s care plans contained sufficient and relevant information to provide consistent care and support. People’s mealtime experience was good with ample assistance available for those who required one to one help with their meal. People received good support which ensured their health care needs were met. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity.
People were supported to take part in activities and daily occupations which they found both meaningful and fulfilling. Relatives told us that they appreciated how staff had thought of new ways to make sure people could join in daily routines and events they could enjoy. Staff had also been responsible for encouraging and supporting people with new interests which they had benefited from. The home made a particular effort to communicate with relatives and other interested parties to make sure that people were ‘given a voice’ despite their complex needs.
We observed throughout our visit, and were told by relatives, that people were treated with kindness and compassion. We saw people smiling and engaging with staff. Staff knew how best to communicate with people. This included the use of gestures, touch and key phrases, which the person understood. Staff responded quickly to people’s changing needs and knew people well enough to know when a subtle facial expression or a sound indicated they needed assistance or support. Needs were regularly monitored through staff updates and staff meetings. We saw staff had a good rapport with people and worked together as a team.
The home was regularly cleaned and staff were trained in infection control.
People’s needs in relation to food and drink were met. People enjoyed the meals and their suggestions had been incorporated into menus. We observed that the dining experience was pleasant and that people had choice and variety in their diet.
The service had good management and leadership in place. People had opportunities to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery. Effective monitoring systems were in place which ensured people received safe quality care. Complaints were welcomed and were investigated and responded to appropriately. The registered manager worked alongside the team, supporting the staff to ensure people received the care and support they needed. People told us they got on with the registered manager and that they were approachable and listened to them.
There were quality assurance systems in place which were used to make improvements to the service. We sampled a range of safety audits and looked at the results of a recent quality survey sent out to relatives, healthcare professionals, including social workers.