2a Court Road

Updated 14 March 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 21 January 2019 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

We were unable to speak with some people using the service due to their highly complex needs. We therefore spoke with one person, two relatives, staff and the registered manager to help form our judgements. We observed the care and support provided and the interaction between staff and people using the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). This is a helpful tool to use if we are unable to find out people’s experiences through talking to them, for example if they have dementia or other cognitive impairments.

We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader and two staff members. We looked at three people’s care records and associated documents. We looked at four staff records, previous inspection reports, rotas, audits, staff training and supervision records, health and safety paperwork, accident and incident records, statement of purpose, complaints and compliments, minutes from staff meetings and a selection of the provider’s policies. We also looked at records that related to how the home was managed, such as quality audits, fire risk assessments and infection control records.

Before our inspection we reviewed all of the information we held about the home, including notifications of incidents that the provider had sent us. We 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.

After the inspection, we contacted seven healthcare professionals for their views of the service, none of whom replied to us.

Updated 14 March 2019

Care service description

The service is registered to provide accommodation for up to 15 people who predominantly have learning disabilities. The home is a large bungalow which has been split into three individual houses connected by a shared corridor. Staff worked across all three houses.

Rating at last inspection

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

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At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Staff had an excellent understanding of people’s needs and found imaginative ways to ensure people were supported in a person-centred way which put people at the centre of the service.

Staff provided person-centred support by listening to people and engaging them at every opportunity. Staff worked together as a team and worked with healthcare professionals to provide an environment where people could recover from stressful situations and enjoy their lives. Staff were compassionate, kind and caring and had developed excellent relationships with people.

People had a variety of internal activities (such as art and craft) and external activities which they enjoyed on a regular basis.

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.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidelines. 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.

Support plans were detailed and reviewed with the person when possible, staff who supported the person and family members. Staff looked to identify best practise and used this to people’s benefit. Staff worked with and took advice from health care professionals. People’s health care needs were met.

Recruitment, staffing, medicine management, infection control and upkeep of the premises protected people from unsafe situations and harm.

Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and discrimination. They knew to report any concerns and ensure action was taken. The registered manager worked with the local authority safeguarding adults team to protect people.

Staff were trained and supported to be skilled and efficient in their roles. They were very happy about the level of training and support they received and showed competence when supporting people.

The premises provided people with a variety of spaces for their use with relevant facilities to meet their needs. Bedrooms were very individual and age and gender appropriate. Staff promoted people’s dignity and privacy.

The registered manager ran a well organised service. Relatives’ views were sought, and opportunities taken to improve the service. Staff were supervised, supported and clear about what was expected of them. Audits and checks were carried out in-house, so any problem could be identified and rectified.

Further information is in the detailed findings below