The unannounced inspection took place on 8 June 2017. At the last inspection in April 2015, the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for “Church View” on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’
Church View supports adults with enduring mental health problems. The home can accommodate up to 25 people in three houses, York, Canterbury and The Vicarage. There are accessible well managed gardens. The service is situated in Kimberworth close to local shops and amenities, and is within easy reach of Rotherham town centre.
The people we spoke with who lived at Church View told us they liked living there and felt staff met their needs in a friendly and supportive manner. We saw people were encouraged to be as independent as they were able to be, while staff readily offered support and guidance as needed.
Staff were knowledgeable about how to recognise signs of potential abuse and aware of the reporting procedures. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and actions put in place to help minimise the risk from occurring. This was done in a way that maintained people’s independence.
Recruitment processes helped the employer make safer recruitment decisions when employing new staff. At the time of the inspection there was sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs.
Systems were in place to make sure people received their medications safely, which included key staff receiving medication training and regular audits of the system.
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 had completed an induction at the beginning of their employment which included undertaking the company’s mandatory training. This was followed by periodic refresher and specialist training to increase and update their skills and knowledge. Staff had also received regular support sessions.
People received a well-balanced diet which was varied and met their needs. They had been consulted about menus, which were flexible and offered choice. The people we spoke with said they were happy with the meals available.
Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of how they respected people’s individuality and ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained. We saw staff took account of people’s individual needs and preferences, while supporting them to be as independent as possible.
People had been encouraged to be involved in the assessment and care planning process. Support plans reflected people’s needs clearly and had been reviewed and updated to reflect their changing needs.
People had access to a varied programme of social activities and stimulation, including access to community social clubs and outings.
There was a system in place to tell people how to raise concerns and how these would be managed. People told us they would raise any concerns with the management team. They said the management team were approachable and listened to their suggestions and ideas.
There were systems in place to assess if the home was operating correctly and people were satisfied with the service provided. This included surveys, meetings and regular audits. Action plans had been put in place to address any areas that needed improving.
Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.