Echo Square House

Updated 11 April 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.

This inspection took place on 22 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the service is small and people are often out during the day, so we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Prior to the inspection, we looked at previous inspection reports and notifications about important events that had taken place at the service. We also 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. The provider asked for an extension of time to complete the PIR and returned it within this agreed timescale.

Some people were unable to tell us about their experiences. We spoke to one person and observed interactions between people and staff. One person showed the inspector around their home.

We spoke with the registered manager and a senior carer. We looked at a selection of records including two care plans and daily records, staff rota, medicines records, environment and health and safety records and quality assurance documents.

We asked the provider to send us information about staff training and this was sent in a timely manner.

Updated 11 April 2018

The inspection took place on 22 February 2018 and was announced.

Echo Square is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides support for up to three adults with a learning disability. There were three people with autism living at the service at the time of our inspection .

The care service 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.

The service continued to be run by a registered manager who was present on the day of our visit. 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.

At our last comprehensive inspection on 4 December 2015 the service was rated Good, but the domain of ‘safe’ was rated Requires improvement as there was a breach of regulation with regards to staff recruitment. At a focused inspection on 3 February 2017 we found there were no breaches of regulation and the domain of ‘safe’ was rated as 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

Staff had received training about protecting people from abuse and knew how to follow the provider’s safeguarding procedures to raise concerns.

Staffing levels had been maintained to ensure there were enough staff available to meet people’s physical, social and emotional needs.

People’s care was planned to maintain their safety, health and wellbeing. Positive risk assessment took place to maintain people’s safety and enable them to be as independent as possible. Systems were in place to monitor incidents and accidents.

Medicines continue to be managed, stored, disposed of and administered safely. People received their medicines when they needed them and as prescribed.

Staff received the training they needed for their roles and were supported through regular supervision and an annual appraisal.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to support people's best interest if they lacked capacity.

People’s health, social and physical needs were assessed and clear guidance was in place to ensure they were effectively monitored. Care plans included information about people’s personal history, what was important to them and how diagnoses of autism affected them, so staff could meet their needs and individual preferences.

People continued to experience care that was caring and compassionate. They were supported by a staff team who had known them for many years and positive relationships had developed where people were valued and respected. Staff knew how to communicate with people in a way they understood and to provide an environment and atmosphere where people felt safe and reassured.

There were policies in place that ensured people would be listened to and treated fairly if they complained about the service. Information on a range of topics had been provided for people in an easy read format.

The registered manager was approachable and the atmosphere in the service was relaxed and informal. They were supported by a staff team who understood the aims of the service and were proud and motivated to support people according to their choices and preferences.