Outlook Care - Summit Road

Updated 12 May 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 checked 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.

The inspection took place on 30 and 31 October 2017 and was unannounced. The provider knew we would be returning for the second day.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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 reviewed the completed PIR and previous inspection reports before the inspection.

We reviewed other information we had about the provider, including notifications of any safeguarding or other incidents affecting the safety and well-being of people using the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with members of staff including the registered manager. We looked at people’s care and support plans and other documents relating to their care including risk assessments and healthcare documents. We looked at other records held by the service including staff files and health and safety documents.

Updated 12 May 2018

Outlook Care - Summit Road is a fully accessible residential care home for people with a learning disability and complex needs. At the time of inspection there were six people using the service which is the maximum number of people the service can accommodate.

At our last comprehensive inspection in September 2015 the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained good but we made a recommendation in relation to staff training.

Staff had not always received refresher training to support them to carry out their roles effectively. The provider’s quality monitoring procedures did not highlight this issue.

People were protected from the risk of potential abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if they had concerns about the service. People were protected from risks to their health and wellbeing because risk assessments to guide staff were accurate and provided staff with sufficient detail about how to manage specific risks.

Medicines were well managed and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.

Newly appointed staff were supported in their role by an induction period. Staff developed caring relationships with people using the service and respected their diversity and dignity.

People were supported to get enough to eat and drink and people had access to healthcare professionals.

People and their relatives were involved in planning their care and care records included information about people's likes and dislikes and promoting their independence. 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.

There was a positive and open culture at the service.