• Care Home
  • Care home

Consensus Support Services Limited - Moor Lane

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

1 Moor Lane, Backwell, Bristol, BS48 3LL (01275) 465560

Provided and run by:
Consensus Support Services Limited

All Inspections

1 October 2017

During a routine inspection

Consensus Support is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for eight people with learning disabilities and complex needs. The service also has the facility to provide respite care. At the time of our visit there were eight people living at the service.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good:

People’s rights were in the main being upheld in line with the Mental Capacity Act [MCA] 2005. This is a legal framework to protect people who are unable to make certain decisions themselves. We noted that when conducting capacity assessments the service adopted a blanket approach for each person’s care requirements. One person’s capacity assessment covered all aspects of their care such as personal care, finance, eating and drinking, medication and sleep system. Care plans are currently being reviewed by the registered manager to ensure that the arrangements for people’s care or treatment evidence best interests decision-making in line with the MCA, based on decision-specific capacity assessments.

Risks to people were assessed and where required a risk management plan was in place to support people manage an identified risk and keep the person safe.

Staffing numbers were sufficient to meet people’s needs and this ensured people were supported safely. People told us they felt safe living at the service.

People received effective support from staff that had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. The provider ensured that new staff completed an induction training programme which prepared them for their role. Staff received on-going training to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the role. Staff were supported through a supervision programme. Supervision is where staff meet one to one with their line manager to discuss their work and development.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to external health care professionals when required.

Staff were caring towards people and there was a good relationship between people and staff. Staff demonstrated an understanding of the needs and preferences of the people they cared for.

Support provided to people met their needs. Records highlighted information about what was important to people and how to support them . People were involved in activities of their choice.

There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. Staff described the registered manager as supportive. People and their representative’s provided positive feedback about the service and the support received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

24 August 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 24 August 2015.

Consensus Support provides accommodation for up to eight people who require personal and/or nursing care.

At the time of our visit there were seven people living in the home. All rooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities. The home is situated in a quiet country road in Backwell.

There is a registered manager in post. 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.

The registered manager and provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care provided to people. Continual improvements to care provision were made which showed the registered manager and provider were committed to delivering high quality care.

There was a positive atmosphere within the home and people were very much at the heart of the service. People and relatives were involved in the care planning. Staff implemented the service’s core values to ensure people had a meaningful and enjoyable life. People were involved in the assessment and review of their care. Staff supported and encouraged people to access the community and participate in activities, including paid and voluntary work placements that were important to them.

All of the staff received regular training that provided them with the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs in an effective and individualised manner. People’s health and wellbeing needs were closely monitored and the staff worked very well with other professionals to ensure these needs were met. A flexible approach to mealtimes was used to ensure people could access suitable amounts of food and drink that met their individual preferences. This helped people to maintain a healthy lifestyle and encouraged their independence.

Staff sought people’s consent before they provided care and support. However, some people who used the service were unable to make certain decisions about their care. In these circumstances the people’s rights were protected because the home used appropriate guidance and legislation Where people had restrictions placed upon them to keep them safe, the staff made sure people’s rights to receive care that met their needs and preferences were protected. Where people were restricted to promote their safety, the staff continued to ensure people’s care preferences were respected and met and that they were supervised when required.

Any risks to people were identified, managed and reviewed and the staff understood how to keep people safe. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people’s needs and promote people’s safety and independence. Systems were in place to protect people from the risks associated from medicines, incidents and emergencies. People received their medication safely in the privacy in their own rooms by suitably trained staff.

People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect and staff promoted people’s independence and right to privacy. The staff were extremely committed to their work roles and provided people with a positive care experience. They ensured people’s care preferences were met and gave people opportunities to try new experiences.

16 June 2013

During a routine inspection

We met with three people living at Moor lane. Other people were not present during our inspection because they were being supported in the community or visiting relatives. We spoke with two relatives during our inspection and spoke with three members of staff.

People using the service weren't able to speak with us directly to tell us about their experiences, due to their communication needs. However from our observations they appeared settled and content. Both of the relatives that we spoke with gave very positive feedback, with comments such as 'I can't praise them enough' and 'staff more than understand their needs'.

Support plans for people were comprehensive. They highlighted how people could be supported to make decisions and where the principles of the Mental Capacity Act may have to be used.

People were supported in a clean and hygienic environment and there were systems in place to monitor the quality of service provided.

28 September 2012

During a routine inspection

People living at Moor Lane were unable to tell us directly about their experience of living at the home due to their communication needs. However, we observed that people were treated with respect by staff that were knowledgeable about their needs. We were told about and observed activities that people were supported to take part in. People's independence was encouraged and their spiritual and cultural needs were considered.

24 May 2011

During a routine inspection

People who live at Moor Lane have difficulty in communicating and it was therefore not possible to ask most people about life in the home. One person we spoke with answered 'yes' when we asked them if they liked living at the home and when we

asked if they able to do the things they chose they said 'yes'.

We therefore spent a significant amount of time during our visit observing how staff interacted with people who live in the home and how they supported them. People were given the opportunity to make the best use of their own skills and abilities.

We saw that staff worked hard to ensure people were given the opportunity to make choices. It was also clear that when people were not able to use clear speech, staff were good at recognising and interpreting vocalisations, responses and gestures. People's ability to communicate choices may be improved by the use of other communication tools such as pictures and symbols.

People moved freely around the home and made their own decisions about how to spend their day.

Each person has a plan which clearly describes the care and support they require

and how staff should provide it; information is also included about who the important people in their life are, how they communicate and what daily routines they may have.

New people moving into the home have their care and support needs fully assessed.

The care staff we observed supporting people clearly knew them well and understood their needs; they felt there were enough staff working in the home to ensure peoples' needs were met each day

Clear information is contained in people's care plans if they require a particular diet, need their food prepared in a specific way or if they have dislikes or allergies.

Staff members were clear about the important role they have to ensure people are happy with their service and remain safe. They observed individuals and used their

knowledge of them to help determine how people were feeling.

People have their medicines when they need them and these are given in a safe

way.