Archived: Alma Grove

Updated 26 September 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 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.

The comprehensive inspection took place on 16 March 2018. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

A lead inspector, a second inspector and an expert-by-experience carried out this inspection. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Our expert-by-experience had a background in providing care for people with learning disabilities.

Before our inspection we looked at all of the information we held about the service. This included notifications from the provider. Notifications contain information about certain changes, events and incidents affecting the service or people who use it that providers are required to notify us about.

The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) in December 2017. The PIR is a form that asks providers to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection visit we spoke with one person who used the service. We spoke with the registered manager and care workers on duty. We also spoke with a clinical psychologist who was working with the care team to support a person. We observed how people were being cared for and supported.

We looked at the care records for two people who lived in the home and medicine administration records for all of the people living there. We also looked at the quality assurance systems and feedback from people using the service.

We looked at two staff recruitment files, records of staff training and supervisions, records of complaints and incidents and other documents relating to governance and quality assurance. We checked how medicines were managed and carried out a visual inspection of fire safety equipment, escape routes and emergency documentation.

At the end of the inspection we gave feedback to the registered manager. Following our inspection, the registered manager sent us additional information we had asked for.

Updated 26 September 2018

The inspection took place on 16 March 2018 and was announced.

Alma Grove 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.

The provider is registered to accommodate up to four people living with learning disabilities. People were supported with personal care needs. At the time of our inspection four people were living at the service. Each person had needs relating to personal care and daily living.

Alma Grove is managed by The Brandon Trust, a national organisation that provides social and health care services.

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.

At the last inspection on 25 November 2015 we rated the service Good.

At this inspection on 16 March 2018 we found the service remained Good.

People received their medicines as prescribed and had regular access to healthcare professionals when needed. Medicines were ordered, stored and administered safely and in line with national guidance.

People were cared for by dedicated, attentive and enthusiastic staff. The care team were well trained and the registered manager and team leader ensured each individual remained up to date with the latest care standards. We saw during our observations people were happy and had access to recreation and activities important to them.

We were unable to speak to more than one person due to the nature of people's health conditions. However, we saw evidence people were happy, well cared for and had involvement from their relatives when they wanted it.

Where people's needs changed staff demonstrated a proactive and comprehensive response to enable them to adapt the service and their care strategies. This included working with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to coordinate holistic, individualised care.

Environment and fire safety management was comprehensive and the building was kept safe through regular health and safety inspections. However timely action was not always taken in response to fire risk assessment recommendations. Not all areas of the home were consistently clean and free from dirt and dust. The registered manager said they would immediately implement improvements to address this.

The provider understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and ensured they had consent before providing care. Where people's mental health needs increased, the care team had involved appropriate specialists and undertaken extensive additional training to make sure they could continue to deliver a high standard of care.

The service was well led. There were effective systems in place for governance and quality assurance, including information sharing and learning opportunities between managers and a rolling programme of audits. Staff told us they were well supported and had access to on-going, specialist training and development opportunities.