Archived: Apton Road

Updated 22 November 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 was planned to check whether the provider met 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 under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 24 October 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Before our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. We reviewed the provider’s information return (PIR) submitted to us in September 2018. This is information that the provider is required to send to us, which gives us some key information about the service and tells us what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we observed staff support people who used the service, we spoke with one person who used the service, two support staff and the registered manager. We spoke with three relatives by telephone after the inspection visit to obtain their feedback on how people were supported to live their lives.

We received feedback from representatives of the local authority health and community services.

We reviewed care records relating to two people who used the service and other documents central to people’s health and well-being. These included staff training records, medication records and quality audits.

Updated 22 November 2018

This inspection took place on 24 October 2018 and was unannounced.

At our last inspection on 11 April 2016 we rated the service good. 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.

Apton Road is a ‘care home’ for people offering short break respite support for up to four adults with learning disabilities and physical disabilities in an adapted building. 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.

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.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy

People felt safe and were confident to approach the staff. Detailed health and support plans had been developed to ensure that staff knew how people wanted their needs to be met. Risks to people’s safety and welfare had been identified and support planned to enable people to enjoy their respite stay as safely as possible. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff understood their individual roles and responsibilities and were supported by the management team to maintain and further develop their skills and knowledge. People enjoyed a varied healthy diet and their health needs were well managed.

People enjoyed a good relationship with the staff team supporting them. People were involved in all aspects of their support as much as they were able. Relatives and friends were encouraged to visit at any time and people were actively supported to maintain family relationships. Staff promoted people’s dignity and treated them with respect.

People’s support was arranged around their needs and they were involved in decisions about their care where possible with support from family members and professionals. The provider had arrangements to support people and their families to raise concerns and there were opportunities for people to discuss all aspects support provided.

The registered manager promoted a positive culture that was transparent and inclusive. Robust systems had been developed to continuously check and monitor the quality of the service people received. Staff felt valued and were encouraged to contribute any ideas for improving the service.