Toller Road

Updated 25 April 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The Inspection was carried out by two Inspectors.

Service and service type

Toller Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authorities who commission the service on behalf of people. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We had discussions with four members of staff including the registered manager, nurse, support worker and the activities coordinator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We sought feedback from two professionals and spoke to one relative.

Updated 25 April 2020

About the service

Toller Road is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to eight adults with a learning disability, autism and mental health difficulties. At the time of our inspection there were four people using the service. The service can support up to eight people .’

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from avoidable harm; and staff knew how to report any concerns of abuse. Staffing levels met people’s personalised care needs. Risks to people were managed effectively to mitigate risks identified. Staff followed good practice guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and gave people their medicines safely. There were systems in place to learn lessons when things went wrong. The home was clean, well maintained and tidy.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff continuously asked people about their views and choices and these were documented.

Staff supported people to independently choose and cook their own meals, and healthy eating was promoted. Staff ensured people's healthcare needs were met. Staff were alert and responsive to any changes in people's needs and liaised with health care professionals. Staff received an induction before they started work with the service and specific training to meet people’s individual needs. Staff felt well supported by the management team and continued professional development was promoted and encouraged by the registered manager.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Staff provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way. They knew the people who used the service well and had built up kind and compassionate relationships with them. One person told us, “Staff are like family.” Staff supported people to maintain relationships with family and friends and felt proud to support people in their decision to move onto supported living or live nearer to their relatives.

Quality assurance processes were robust to give oversight of the service. The registered manager and provider had ideas of how to continuously improve people's lives and valued working in partnership with others to achieve this.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published14 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.