Archived: 117-119 Mollands Lane

117-119 Mollands Lane 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.

117-119 Mollands Lane accommodates up to six people in one adapted building who may have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The service does not provide nursing care. On the day of our inspection five people were living at the service.

The 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 requires and did have a registered manager. 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 the last inspection, the service was rated ‘Good’ in all five domains. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.

The service was safe. There were enough staff to help keep people safe, meet their needs and protect them from harm and abuse. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed. There were safe systems in place for receiving, administering and disposing of medicines.

The service was effective. People were supported by staff that had the skills and experience 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 and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced diet and to access health and social care services when required.

The service was caring. Staff knew people very well and were kind and sensitive to their needs. Staff were observed providing very good personalised care and it was evident they clearly knew people well and understood their individual needs. Staff ensured people’s privacy and dignity was respected and maintained at all times.

The service was responsive. People were involved in the planning and review of their care and support needs. There was a strong emphasis on person centred care. Care plans were regularly reviewed and people were supported to plan their support to ensure they received a service that was based on their personal needs and wishes. People were encouraged and supported by staff to pursue their interests and hobbies and activities were tailored around people’s likes, choices and abilities.

The service was well-led. The registered manager demonstrated strong values and commitment to learn and implement best practice, ensuring people had a good quality of life. Staff were highly motivated and proud to work at the service. There were systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service provided and people living and working in the service had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People told us that they felt safe. One person said, "Yes, I feel happy and safe they look after me very well." They said that the manager and the staff were very friendly, caring and kind. Staff interaction throughout our inspection visit was good.

We looked at a sample of care plans and found that they provided good information about the individual. The care plan format was also available in pictorial form for those people that may have required this to enable them to fully understand the agreed needs and goals. Staff had a good knowledge of each individual’s support needs which enabled people to receive safe and effective care.

We found the provider had an effective complaints system available this enabled people who used the service, relatives or representatives to raise any issues or concerns they might have.

We found that the service was meeting the personal, emotional and healthcare needs of people who used the service. We found that the environment was maintained safely and odour free and that all health and safety checks were up to date.

One person told us that they liked to help the staff cook the meals for everyone. Another person told us that "I can make a cup of tea and staff help me so that I am safe."

We found that there was an effective training programme in place that ensured staff were provided with the appropriate training to carry out their role effectively.

People were consulted about the service provided through informal systems of communication on a regular basis and any changes or improvements were made when necessary. No formal complaints about the service had been received by the provider in the past year.

We found that plans of care could be further improved by producing them in a more person centred format which would ensure that they can be fully understood by everyone who used the service.