Archived: Squirrels

Updated 31 July 2015

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 21 July 2015 and was unannounced.

The inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Before our inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

During our visit we spoke with the manager, deputy manager, three support workers, two relatives and three healthcare professionals.

We pathway tracked two care plans for people who lived in the home . This is when we follow a person’s experience through the service and get their views on the care they received. This allows us to capture information about a sample of people receiving care. We looked at staff duty rosters, staff recruitment files, the homes safeguarding policy, incident records, safeguarding records, staff training records, internal quality assurance audits, medication records, staff feedback records and support and supervision records. We also observed interactions between staff and people.

We last inspected the home on 14 May 2013 where no concerns were identified.

Updated 31 July 2015

At the time of our inspection Squirrels did not have a registered manager. However the manager was in the process of applying for their registration 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Squirrels is a service for up to nine young people who may have autistic spectrum disorders, severe learning disabilities, and associated challenging behaviours. At the time of our inspection nine people were using the service.

Senior staff did not display good knowledge of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Staff understood the needs of people and care was provided with kindness and compassion. Relatives and health care professionals told us they were happy with the care and described the service as good.

People were supported to take part in activities they had chosen. Records showed people’s hobbies and interests were documented and staff accurately described people’s preferred routines.

Staff were appropriately trained and skilled to deliver safe care. They all received a thorough induction before they started work and fully understood their responsibilities to report any concerns of possible abuse.

Staff received training in mental health, learning disabilities, understanding autism and to care for people who display behaviours that may challenge others.

The provider had appropriate systems in place to recruit staff and to monitor their performance.

The provider had employed skilled staff and took steps to make sure care was based on local and national best practice. Information regarding diagnosed conditions was documented in people’s care plans and risks to health and wellbeing were discussed daily during staff meetings. Staff consistently told us they communicated risks associated with people health and behaviours frequently.

The manager assessed and monitored the quality of care provided involving people, relatives and professionals. Each person and every relative told us they were regularly asked for feedback and were encouraged to voice their opinions about the quality of care provided. Records showed care plans had been reviewed regularly and people’s support was personalised and tailored to their individual needs.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. These safeguards protect the rights of people using services by ensuring that if there are any restrictions to their freedom and liberty, these have been authorised by the local authority as being required to protect the person from harm. We observed people’s freedoms were not unlawfully restricted and staff were knowledgeable about when a DoLS application should be made.

Referrals to health care professionals were made quickly when people became unwell. Each health care professional told us the staff were responsive to people’s changing health needs.

Staff spoke with people in a friendly and respectful manner. The service was personalised and relatives told us the culture of the home was supportive, understanding and active.

Care plans were reviewed regularly and people’s support was personalised and tailored to their individual needs.

Management responded to complaints in a timely manner.