Consort Close - Bollington

Updated 19 December 2018

The inspection

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.

Inspection team: The inspection was completed by one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience of using this type of service.

Service and service type: 2, 3 and 4 Consort Close is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection: This inspection was unannounced.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

What we did: Before our inspection we looked at information we held about the service. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return form (PIR). A PIR is a form we ask providers to submit annually detailing what the service does well and what improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information stored on our database, such as notifications that the registered manager is required, by law, to submit to us as and when incidents may have occurred. We also spoke to the Local authority and commissioning team to gain feedback about the service. The information gathered was utilised to plan the inspection.

Inspection site visit activity started on 28 November 2018 and ended on 03 December 2018. We also visited the providers offices to review documentation, policies and procedures. We spoke to five people using the service, three relatives and eight staff including the residential manager, health and safety manager and safeguarding team. We looked at four care files, audits and quality assurance reports, records of accidents and incidents and complaints.

Updated 19 December 2018

What life is like for people using this service:

People and their relatives told us they were happy with care provided. People were empowered to maintain their independence, make their own life choices and live busy, active lives. Most people living there were in paid or voluntary employment. Everyone we spoke with at Consort Close told us it was a nice place to live and people were happy there.

The service operated safe management of people’s medicines. People who were able to control their own medication were encouraged to do so. This promoted their independence.

People were cared for by staff they knew well. Most of the staff had worked for the provider for a long time. New staff received a thorough induction and were given time to get to know the people they were caring for. The provider operated safe recruitment, all staff had been subject to checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure they were not known as unsuitable to work with vulnerable people.

The provider had a safeguarding team that were contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Staff were provided with contact details for this on their ID badges. Safeguarding was discussed at resident and staff meetings and there were signs around the home informing people how they could raise a concern.

Each person living at the service had an individual care file which was detailed and included how they wished to be cared for. There was clear person-centred information and documentation had been regularly reviewed and updated.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring and had formed close bonds with the people using the service.

People were empowered to live full and active lives, they had jobs if they chose to, took part in a variety of activities and were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends.

The home was relaxed, welcoming and homely. There were photographs on all the walls of people who live there and the people that were important to them.

The service provided information in a way that people living with disability or sensory loss could understand. They used ‘communication in print’ for people who could not read.

Staff received a comprehensive induction when they commenced employment, did annual refresher training and completed extra training if they supported people with their medications. All staff told us the training was detailed and gave them the skills they needed to meet people’s needs.

There was a registered manager in post, they were supported by a residential manager and team leaders. The management team were supported by the providers safeguarding team, health and safety manager and multi-disciplinary team, including clinical specialists. There were regular multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 14 April 2016)

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

About the service: Two, three and four Consort Close, Bollington is a care home which is part of the David Lewis Centre. The service is registered to provide accommodation for up to 12 adults with a learning disability, autism or a physical disability. The service specialises in caring for people with epilepsy. Some people who live there are able to be independent and have jobs within the local community. 2 Consort Close is a one bedroomed separate property, 3 and 4 Consort Close, known as Bryce House, is a purpose built bungalow for 11 people. These domestic type properties are close to shops, public transport and other local amenities.

Why we inspected: This was a planned, unannounced inspection.