Redlands Lane

Updated 2 November 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 was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Redlands Lane 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

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications received from the registered provider and feedback from the local authority safeguarding team and commissioners. 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

Some people at Redlands Lane were not able to fully share with us their experiences of using the service. Therefore, we spent time observing interactions between people and the staff supporting them. We spoke with two people, three care workers, the acting service manager and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We contacted two relatives and two professionals who regularly visit the service for feedback.

Updated 2 November 2019

About the service

Redlands Lane is a two-bedded residential care home that was providing personal care to two

people who have a learning disability and or a physical disability or autism at the time of the inspection.

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.

The service was registered for the support of up to two people. Two people were using the service. This is in line with current best practice guidance. The building design fitted into the residential area and the other domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People were encouraged to be independent within their home. Staff understood people’s individual communication needs and worked in proactive ways to provide person-centred support.

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives and staff demonstrated an understanding and awareness of mental capacity and best interests’ decisions. However, the records did not always clearly reflect the outcomes of best interest’s decision meetings.

We have made a recommendation concerning the recording of best interest decisions.

The provider supported staff in providing effective care for people through person-centred care planning, training and supervision. This ensured the provision of best practice guidance and that supported staff to meet people’s individual needs.

People participated in a range of activities that met their individual choices and preferences. Staff understood the importance of this for people and provided the support required. This enabled people to achieve positive outcomes and promoted a good quality of life.

The provider had a consistent staff team who understood the needs of people well. We saw staff upheld and promoted people's rights relating to equality and diversity. There was a strongly embedded culture within the service of treating people with dignity, respect, compassion, warmth and kindness.

A system was in place to ensure medicines were managed in a safe way for people. Staff were trained and supported to ensure they were competent to administer medicines. People received support with meals and drinks.

Staff knew how to access relevant healthcare professionals if their input was required. The service worked in partnership with other organisations and healthcare professionals to improve people's outcomes.

Staff were recruited safely and there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to keep people safe and to meet their care needs. Staff received appropriate training which was relevant to their role. Staff were supported by the management team and were receiving formal supervision where they could discuss their on-going development needs.

Relatives and staff told us they thought the home was well led and spoke positively about the management team. The provider and registered manager carried out numerous audits to ensure the service was effective. Staff supported people to integrate into their local community and the culture of the service promoted the values of supporting people to be as independent as possible.

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.