Background to this inspection
Updated
28 January 2022
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.
As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 12 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
28 January 2022
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 06 September 2018.
Walmley Road 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. Walmley provides care and support for a maximum of four people who are living with a learning disability. There were four people living at the home at the time of the inspection.
The home has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
There was a manager in post at the time of our inspection who was in the process of registering 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.
People were cared for by staff who were trained in recognising and understanding how to report potential abuse. Staff knew how to raise any concerns about people’s safety and shared information so that people’s safety needs were met.
People were protected from risks associated with their health and care needs because risk assessments and associated care plans were developed holistically, reviewed and monitored. This ensured that people received the support they required to remain safe. Staff were aware of the risks to people when supporting them. People received support from staff to take their prescribed medicines as and when required. Systems and processes were in place to ensure medicines were managed safely.
Staff were caring and treated people with respect. We saw people were relaxed around the staff supporting them and we heard and saw positive communication throughout our inspection. It was evident that people had developed positive relationships with staff and there was a friendly, calm relaxed atmosphere within the home.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had the knowledge and skills they required to care for people safely and effectively.
Staff understood the importance of ensuring people agreed to the care and support they provided and when to involve others to help people make important decisions. The provider was aware of their responsibilities regarding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People were supported to enjoy a range of activities and were involved in their day to day care and chose how to spend their day. People were encouraged to maintain their independence and live active and fulfilling lives. Staff were caring and treated people with respect.
Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to hygiene and infection control. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and areas needing improvement were acted on.