Archived: Argyle Road

Updated 8 January 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 inspection took place on 11 December 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a 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 checked the information that we held about the service, including any notifications. Notifications are for certain changes, events and incidents affecting the service or the people who use it that providers are required to notify us about. We contacted social care professionals at a local authority for feedback about the quality of the service.

During our inspection, we spoke with one person using the service. We also spoke with two relatives by telephone and looked at two people's care records. This included their care plans, risk assessments and daily notes. We reviewed three staff personnel files. This included their recruitment, training, and supervision records. We spoke with a care staff member and the person in charge of the service.

Updated 8 January 2019

We inspected the service on 11 December 2018. The inspection was unannounced. Argyle Road is a ‘care home’. Argyle Road provides accommodation and support with personal care on a respite basis for up to six people with a learning disability. 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 there was one person using the service.

At the last inspection in June 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. 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.

The service did not have a registered manager in place. However, a new manager had been recruited and would register with CQC. 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.

Risk assessments had been completed for each person and staff were aware of the steps they were required to take to minimise the risks. Staff understood the service's safeguarding procedures to ensure incidents of abuse were reported. Incidents, accidents and complaints were recorded, monitored, and lessons learnt to ensure there was a continued improvement.

There were enough staff to support people. Staff were properly checked to ensure they were safe to work with people. Staff benefitted from the training and support arrangements available to them.

Arrangements were in place for safe management of medicines.

People and relatives were involved in developing people's care plans. Care plans were personalised and contained people's goals and how they wanted staff to support them. People's communication needs were recognised and appropriate support provided through the assessment of needs and care planning systems.

The provider was compliant with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff encouraged and supported people to make decisions about their care. They treated people with respect and ensured people's privacy and dignity was maintained.

The provider worked in partnership with health professionals and ensured people were assisted to access medical help, when needed.

People's nutritional and dietary needs were met. People could choose what, when and where to have their meals.

There were auditing and quality monitoring systems in place to ensure the service was managed effectively.

Equality and diversity of people was promoted and there was no evidence that people were discriminated against.

There were arrangements in place to ensure the spread of infections was controlled and the service was clean and safe.