Archived: Gardens Lane

Updated 3 January 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Gardens Lane is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection visit we gathered information from a number of sources. We also looked at the information received about the service from notifications sent to the Care Quality Commission by the registered provider. We also looked at the provider information return [PIR]. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also spoke with other professionals supporting people at the service, to gain further information about the service.

We spoke with five people who used the service. We spent time observing staff interacting with people. We also used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with four staff including care workers, the deputy manager and a member of the senior team. We looked at documentation relating to four people who used the service, three staff files and information relating to the management of the service.

Updated 3 January 2019

What life is like for people using this service:

Our last inspection took place in June 2016 when the service was rated good. At this inspection we found that the service continued to meet the characteristics of a good service in all the key questions.

The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff knew what action to take if they suspected abuse. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed appropriately and in a manner which did not unnecessarily restrict their freedoms. Accidents and incidents were monitored to identify and address any patterns or trends.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who were knowledgeable about their needs and knew how to support them. Staff received appropriate training and support.

The registered provider had systems in place to ensure people received their medicine as prescribed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet which met their needs and took account of their preferences. People had access to healthcare professionals as required.

We observed staff interacting with people and found they were kind and caring. Staff knew people well and responded to their needs in an understanding way. Through our observations and by looking at care and support plans, we found that people received personalised care which was responsive to their needs.

The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people were given opportunities to raise concerns.

The provider completed audits to ensure the service was running in line with their policies and procedures. People and their relatives were asked for feedback about the service and were kept up dated about any changes.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Rating at last inspection:

Good (Report published 4 August 2016)

About the service:

Gardens Lane is a 12-bedded home providing care and support to adults with learning disabilities. It consists of two bungalows within their own grounds, and is in the Conisbrough area of Doncaster. At the time of our inspection there were eight people using the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.