Lethbridge Road

Updated 20 September 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Lethbridge Road is a ‘care home’. 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us and that the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and 3 support workers. We looked at two people's care files, medicine administration processes, and other records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service.

We observed interactions between people and staff. We were part of people’s conversations regarding their day time activities. We undertook general observations of the home over the course of the inspection, including the general environment, décor and furnishings and bedrooms of the people who lived at Lethbridge Road.

Updated 20 September 2019

About the service

Lethbridge Road is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to five people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence.

People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

Positive behaviour support plans were developed in line with current guidance and had resulted in people no longer require this type of support as they developed skills themselves to manage how they feel.

The service applied the principles of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the promotion of choice and control, independence and inclusion.

People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. Lethbridge Road is located in an area that enabled people using the service to participate in their own local community.

People were active each day and travelled independently on public transport to local places of interest and shops and enjoyed day time activities, such as swimming. Social activities took place in local restaurants and pubs.

Risks that people faced had been assessed and those identified were safely managed. Medicines were managed safely. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities of keeping people safe from harm.

Staffing levels were appropriately managed and people received care from consistent, regular staff. Enough staff were employed each day to meet people's needs, keep them safe and give them the opportunity to take part in their chosen activity.

Staff received a range of training appropriate to their role and people's needs and were supported by the registered manager through regular supervision.

People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink well. People were given a choice of suitable meals and snacks. Staff supported people to make meals of their choice throughout the week. People were supported to access healthcare when needed.

People were offered choice and control and where able, consented to their care and support. Staff supported people to be as independent as possible with activities of daily living, such as laundry, cooking, shopping and personal care.

Effective systems were in place to check the quality and safety of the service. The environment was safe and in a good state of repair and decoration.

The leadership of the service promoted a positive culture that was person-centred and inclusive. The registered manager and the staff team showed a desire to improve on the service provided and in turn the quality of life experiences for the people at Lethbridge Road.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 23 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.