Archived: Care Management Group - 287 Dyke Road

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.

The home provides accommodation and support for up to eight people, primarily young adults, aged 18-30 with profound learning disabilities, physical disabilities, communication and sensory impairments and complex needs such as epilepsy. 287 Dyke Road currently has one person outside of this age group, but who meets the criteria of support that the service provides. At the time of the inspection seven people were living at the home with one person about to move to 287 Dyke Road from another service. The home accommodates those it supports within one self-contained building. The building has eight ensuite bedrooms over three floors, two connecting communal areas, a dining room and large gardens. The home had a lift that allowed access to each floor and each room is adapted with ceiling tracking hoists.

At the last inspection on 5 January 2016 we rated the service as Good. At the last inspection we had identified a breach, (areas of practice that needed to improve) because medicines were not always managed safely. At this inspection we found that improvements had been and that medication management and administration was being managed safely and effectively, and in accordance with guidance and regulations.

People and their relatives were happy with the care provided by staff who held a detailed working knowledge of each person’s needs and requirements. One relative told us, “They judge what level of assistance he needs at that time. They know when to keep out of his face as he gets cross sometimes. They know him so well.” Another relative commented that, “The staff have given me back my confidence in the care system”.

Staff had been recruited in line with regulations and good practice and had received training appropriate to their roles and responsibilities. There were enough staff to care for people safely.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures and aware of what action they needed to take when they suspected abuse or harm had occurred. Staff had a good understanding of equality, diversity and human rights.

People’s needs had been assessed appropriately. People’s care plans and daily activities had been developed in a person-centred way that placed them at the forefront of their support. People’s rooms had been decorated and personalised to a high standard that reflected their cultural, ethnic and lifestyle preferences.

Risks associated with care and support, environment and the use of equipment within the service had been appropriately identified and assessed. The service was effective in the management of risks to people with complex needs within the service to ensure they remained safe. One relative told us, “They judge what level of assistance he needs at that time”

The registered manager and staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Applications for DOLS had been made where appropriate.

People’s nutritional and hydration requirements were managed well and in accordance with their specific clinical health requirements. People were actively supported to access healthcare professionals and support when required.

People were provided with opportunities to participate in in-house activities and to regularly access the local and wider community. People were supported to make choices in every aspect of their daily routines and activities, while relatives were actively encouraged and supported to engage in the support of their family members. One relative told us, “It is a beautiful place, I think it is always clean and they make it happy”.

The provider undertook quality assurance audits to measure and monitor the standard of care provided to people and to enable improvement in standards.

Quality Assurance surveys were undertaken by the provider to ensure that people’s relatives were satisfied with the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

We viewed the care records of three people who use the service and saw their needs were assessed and their care and support was planned and delivered accordingly. We saw that support and advice was sought in relation to people's health and wellbeing and that external professionals were involved in people's care.

Staff told us that the way the service was delivered enabled them to get to know people well through a keyworker relationship and that this helped them to understand people's non verbal communication. Relatives we spoke with told us they were happy with the care that people received. One parent told us "He's happy. Of all the homes he's lived at this has been the best." We viewed records of activities and weekly activity plans and saw that people were supported to participate in activities both within and outside of the home.

There were processes in place to support people to make informed choices about their care and support wherever possible.

Each person living in the home had a detailed plan of care in place that included people's individual needs and wishes and also recorded people's physical and emotional healthcare needs.

The home's staff worked with a variety of healthcare professionals including district nurses, dieticians and the local learning disability team.

We spoke with staff and reviewed records which showed us that people were protected from abuse and their care was planned and delivered in a safe manner.

Recent improvements had been made to the environment and the home was warm and homely. People had the specialist equipment they needed to support their healthcare needs.

People were protected by their being a robust staff recruitment and selection process in place and staff had the skills needed to safely support people.

Comments we received from a healthcare professional included. 'The people living in the home have high support needs, there are very good relationships with the staff and they support people well.'