244 Wootton Road

Updated 3 October 2017

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 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 inspection took place on 29 June 2017 and was unannounced. It was completed by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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. We also reviewed other information we held on the service. This included statutory notifications that had been sent to us in the last year. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us.

We spoke with two people who used the service, and observed care and support being delivered to all three people who used the service. We also spoke with two care staff, the deputy manager and the registered manger.

We reviewed three care plans, three medication records, two staff recruitment and induction files and staffing rotas for the weeks leading up to the inspection. We also reviewed quality and safety monitoring records and records relating to the maintenance of the service and equipment.

Updated 3 October 2017

The inspection took place on 29 June 2017 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection for this service.

The service is registered to provide care and support for up to three people with a learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection three people were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff were trained in safeguarding people from the risk of abuse and systems were in place to help protect people from all forms of abuse including financial. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any safeguarding concerns they may have. Appropriate action had been taken in response to the one safeguarding concern notified to us.

Risks had been assessed and actions taken to try to reduce these risks.

Staffing levels matched the assessed safe levels and were appropriate to the needs of the people who used the service. Recruitment procedures, designed to ensure that staff were suitable for this type of work, were robust.

Medicines were administered safely and records related to medicines management were accurately completed.

Staff training was provided and ensured staff were trained to meet people’s current and predicted future needs. Formal support for staff through staff meetings, supervision and appraisal needed to improve.

Staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The MCA and DoLS ensure that, where people lack capacity to make decisions for themselves, decisions are made in their best interests according to a structured process. Where people’s liberty needs to be restricted for their own safety, this must done in accordance with legal requirements. The service was operating lawfully with regard to MCA and DoLS.

People were supported with their eating and drinking needs and staff helped people to maintain good health by supporting them with their day–to-day healthcare needs. Some healthcare recording needed to be more robust to ensure people remained safe and well.

Staff were caring and treated people with kindness, making sure their dignity was maintained. Staff were positive about the job they did and relationships were easy and relaxed. Staff had built up good relationships with the people they were supporting and caring for. Careful consideration had been given to people’s communication needs.

People, and their relatives, were involved in planning and reviewing their care and were encouraged to provide feedback on the service. There was a commitment to ensuring care was person centred and met people’s individual needs and specific preferences.

People had opportunities to follow a range of outside interests and hobbies.

There was a complaints procedure in place but no formal complaints had been made. Staff confirmed they would know how to support people if they wished to complain and advocacy services were available if needed.

Staff understood their roles and felt well supported, even though the registered manager was not permanently based at the service.

Effective systems were in place to assess the quality and safety of the service and action had been taken to address any concerns. There was good management oversight of the day-to-day running of the service. The manager had submitted required notifications regarding health and safety matters to CQC.