Archived: Oldway Heights

Updated 6 August 2016

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 was 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 12 and 17 July 2016 and the first day was unannounced.

One Adult Social care (ASC) inspector conducted the inspection.

Before the inspection we gathered and reviewed information we held about the registered provider. This included information from previous inspections and notifications (about events and incidents in the service) sent to us by the registered provider. Prior to the inspection, the registered manager had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asked the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

On the first day of the inspection we met all the people using the service at that time. On the second day of the inspection we met five of the people who had been on holiday. We spoke privately with 15 people. We spoke with six staff, the registered manager, assistant manager and the provider. We also spoke with a visiting healthcare professional. Following the inspection we spoke with one healthcare professional and received an email from the local authority’s quality support team.

During the inspection we observed the interaction between staff and people living at the service. We also observed some care practices such as people being helped to move. We looked at a number of records including five people’s care records, the provider’s quality assurance system, accident and incident reports, three staff files, records relating to medicine administration and staffing rotas

Updated 6 August 2016

Oldway Heights is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 39 older people, people with mental health needs, people with a physical disability and younger adults. The service does not provide nursing care. Nursing services are provided by the community nursing team.

This inspection took place on 12 and 17 July 2016 when there were 26 people living at the service. Ten other people who lived at the service were away on holiday. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. The service was last inspected on 22 May 2014 when it met the requirements that were inspected.

A registered manager was employed by the service. They were also registered to manage another care service owned by the same provider and situated nearby. They were supported in their role as registered manager of Oldway Heights by an assistant manager. 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.

Staff knew people well. Staff were kind and caring and ensured people’s privacy and dignity was respected. When addressing people staff used people’s preferred names and appropriate language. We observed positive relationships between staff and people living at the service. There was much fun, laughter and appropriate banter between staff and the people they supported. Following the inspection a relative contacted us to tell us about the care their relative received. They told us everything was “absolutely wonderful”. They also said the staff were so friendly and always had time to sit and chat with their relative. Throughout the inspection people approached staff in a relaxed manner, smiling and laughing. This indicated they felt safe in the company of staff.

People’s needs were met in a safe and timely way as there were enough staff available. People were supported to go into the community. One person told us they attended the local college. In-house activities included board games, crafts and visiting entertainers. On the first day of our inspection several people were away on holiday. The registered manager told us this was an annual event when a large house with a swimming pool was hired. While some people stayed overnight at the house, others, who did not wish to stay overnight visited on a daily basis. On the second day of our inspection everyone told us how much they had enjoyed their holiday and day visits.

Care plans were detailed and gave good information to staff about people’s needs. People were supported to be involved in making decisions about their care if they wished. Risks to people were assessed and plans put in place to minimise and manage any identified risks. Risks such as self-harm, going out into the community and pressure areas were assessed and well managed.

People were supported to receive a healthy balanced diet whilst enabling them to make choices for themselves. There was a choice of food available for each meal and people told us the food was good. People were weighed regularly to ensure a healthy weight was maintained. People were supported to maintain good health from a number of visiting healthcare professionals. Records confirmed people received regular visits from GPs and community nurses. We spoke with one visiting healthcare professional who told us there was open communication between them and staff at the service. They told us staff always ensured any instructions they gave were carried out.

Regular meetings were held for people to discuss any issues. At one meeting in January 2016 some people had said they would like to go fishing. We saw that this had happened. People had also been told about plans to extend the building to include new bedrooms and the hot tub people had previously asked for.

People were supported by staff who had received training in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Everyone living at the service had been assessed as having capacity to make their own decisions.

Robust recruitment procedures ensured people were protected from the risks associated with staff that may be unsuitable to work with vulnerable people. All the required checks were made before staff were employed. People were protected from the risks of abuse because staff knew how to recognise and report suspicions of abuse. Staff had received training in this area as well as a variety of other training including, first aid and food hygiene. There were safe systems in place to manage people's medicines. Medicines were stored safely and staff had received training in administering medicines.

The registered manager was open and supportive. One staff member told us “I’ve worked a lot in care, but this place has more heart and soul than anywhere I have ever worked”. There was a complaint system in place and people told us they were confident any concerns would be dealt with. There were effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor care and plan on-going improvements. Records were well maintained and kept securely.