Residential Care Providers Limited

Updated 14 January 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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Residential Care Providers Limited – 157 Harrow View 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 service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection visit, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included information about incidents the provider must notify us of, such as any allegations of abuse. 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.

During the inspection

All the people in the home had learning disabilities and could not always communicate with us and tell us what they thought about the service. We therefore spent time at the home observing the experience of the people and their care, how the staff interacted with people and how they supported people during the day. We spoke with one person who lived in the home about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with members of staff, including the registered manager, deputy manager, one senior care worker and one care worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, medication records, staff training records, two staff files in relation to recruitment, and incident and accidents records. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance audits and checks and records relating to the safety of the premises.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives about their experience of care provided.

Updated 14 January 2020

About the service

Residential Care Providers Limited – 157 Harrow View is a small care home registered to provide accommodation and support with personal care for five people with learning disabilities and complex needs. At the time of this inspection, five people lived in the home.

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

All people in the home had learning disabilities and could not always communicate with us and tell us what they thought about the home. We therefore spent time on the inspection observing the experience of people and their care. We also observed how staff interacted with people and the support they provided. We noted that people appeared at ease when in the presence of staff. Staff were patient and respectful when interacting and supporting people and there was a relaxed atmosphere in the home.

Feedback about the home from one person who lived in the home and two relative’s was positive. They spoke highly of care workers and management and said that the home was run well.

People were protected from abuse by staff who understood how to identify and report any abuse concerns. Risks to people's health and wellbeing had been assessed. Appropriate risk assessments were in place and included guidance for staff on how to minimise risks to people.

We checked the arrangements in place in respect of medicines. Care workers had received medicines management training and policies and procedures were in place. The majority of Medicines Administration Records (MARs) we looked were completed with no unexplained gaps. However, where we found gaps the service had failed to identify these. We have made a recommendation in respect of this.

Appropriate recruitment checks had been carried out. The home had adequate staffing levels and staff were able to attend to people's needs. This was confirmed by staff we spoke with.

The premises were clean and tidy. There was a record of essential maintenance carried out. Appropriate fire safety arrangements were in place. Steps had been taken to protect people from the risk of infections.

Staff had received appropriate training and they had the knowledge and skills to support people and were supervised. Staff spoke positively about their experiences working at the home and said that they received support from management. Teamwork was effective in the home.

Staff supported people to have a healthy and nutritious diet that was in line with their individual dietary needs and preferences.

Staff understood their obligations regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. DoLS ensure that an individual being deprived of their liberty is monitored and the reasons why they are being restricted is regularly reviewed to make sure it is still

in the person's best interests. DoLS authorisations were in place where appropriate.

Staff adopted a caring, friendly and professional approach in their work. People were treated with dignity and were respected at all times. Staff promoted people’s independence. Staff and management understood the need to promote equality and diversity and considered people’s protected characteristics.

People and their relatives’ involvement in decision-making about the care provided was encouraged by staff and management. People’s care plans supported a person-centred approach. People had support to lead lifestyles of their choosing, access the local community and participate in recreational activities. People’s wishes and choices about their end of life care were explored with them.

An appropriate complaints procedure was in place. We noted that since the last inspection, the service had not received any complaints.

People benefitted from a service that had an open and inclusive culture. The home was managed effectively. Morale among staff was positive and they spoke enthusiastically about working at the home. Staff told us management were approachable and felt their own work was valued.

Management monitored the quality of the services and safety of the service to ensure it remained safe for people. Quality assurance systems and processes were in place to enable management to monitor and improve the quality of people’s care.

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.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 27 June 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.