Background to this inspection
Updated
7 December 2018
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 was a comprehensive inspection and was announced. We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection visit because the people living in the home can become unsettled by the presence of an unannounced visitor. This gave the provider an opportunity to plan our visit with the people using the service. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager and their most recent provider information return form (PIR). Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. A PIR is a document which provides information about the service such as what they do well and what improvements they plan to make.
We spoke with one relative, three care staff, the home manager, the residential services coordinator and the personnel officer. During the inspection we reviewed three people’s care plans, daily records and carried out general observations of the care being provided. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and staff personnel files. We looked at accident and incident reporting and quality assurance audits. Following the inspection one professional responded to our request for feedback about the service.
Updated
7 December 2018
At the last inspection on 27 September 2017, we found a breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 good governance. We asked the provider to take action to make improvements in their auditing procedures.
Following the inspection, the provider wrote to us, to tell us the action they would take to meet legal requirements. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.
67a St Georges Road is a ‘care home’ registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three people with learning disabilities. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of the inspection three people were living at 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. Registering the Right Support CQC policy
The home manager was in the registration process. 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.
People were safe. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and to report any concerns. Staff had received training to ensure they remained up to date with recognising the signs of abuse and what to do about it.
People were protected from risks. Where risks had been identified, risk assessments were in place with guidance for staff on action to take to manage the risks. Medicines were administered, stored and managed safely. Protocols were in place to manage ‘as required’ PRN medicines.
Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and applied its principles in their work. The MCA protects the rights of people who may not be able to make particular decisions.
People were treated as individuals by staff who respected people’s diverse needs and individual preferences. Care plans were personalised and reviewed or updated when people’s needs changed.
The home requested and gained feedback, all of which was positive. There was a complaints procedure in place and no complaints had been received in the 12 months prior to the inspection.
The staff spoke positively about the provider and the management team. The home manager felt supported by senior managers and the values of the service were evident throughout the staff team.