Gowlands

Updated 16 March 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.

The comprehensive inspection took place on the 14 February 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Prior to the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including statutory notifications we had received about the service and information from the local authority. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send us. We also reviewed a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR 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.

During our inspection, we spoke with three people, three relatives, three members of staff, the deputy director of operations and the director of operations. We looked at a range of documents and written records including two people's care plans, risk assessments and daily records of care and support. We also looked at records, which showed how the service was managed, reviewed staffing records, quality assurance information and minutes from staff meetings.

Updated 16 March 2018

This comprehensive inspection took place on 14 February 2018 and was unannounced.

Gowlands is a residential home that provides respite personal care and support for up to nine people with learning disabilities, sensory impairment, physical disability and associated complex needs. People use the service for short term periods to provide respite for them and their families/carers. At the time of our inspection six people were receiving respite care.

At our last inspection in December 2015 the service was rated ‘Good’ in all five domains. At this inspection we found the key question ‘Is the service well-led?’ rating had not been sustained and improvements were required. The service did not have a registered manager which is a requirement of their registration. 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 overall rating of the service remains Good.

Gowlands is a three storey building with lift access to the first and second floors. People using the service had their own bedroom with wash basin and/or shower facilities. Communal bathrooms and toilets were available on each floor. People had access to various communal lounges and a sensory room. The accommodation is located next to the provider’s purpose built hydrotherapy pool.

The service was safe. Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been identified and management plans were in place to mitigate these. Appropriate recruitment procedures were in place which ensured staff suitability for their role. There were enough staff to help keep people safe and meet their care and support needs. People received their medicines as prescribed.

The service was effective. People were supported by staff had received training to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective care. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported to eat and drink enough and to access health care services if required. People’s rights were protected because staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

The service was caring. Staff were kind and sensitive to people’s needs and were passionate about providing the best possible care and support for people. Staff promoted people’s independence and well-being.

The service was responsive to people’s individual needs. People, including their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care and support needs prior to their stay at Gowlands. Care plans were regularly reviewed to ensure they continued to accurately reflect people’s care and support needs. Activities were tailored around people’s likes, choices and abilities. There was an effective complaints system in place.

The service was not consistently well-led. The service had been without a registered manager since December 2016. There were systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service however some improvements were required to ensure these were robust. Staff were empowered to deliver a positive person centred culture which focussed on ensuring people's experience at the service was of the utmost importance. Staff felt valued and were proud to work at the service. People, relatives and staff had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.