Archived: Stickley Lane

Updated 21 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

Stickley Lane 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. 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

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and two medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with one health care professional who visits the service.

Updated 21 January 2020

Stickley Lane is a care home providing personal care to six people with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection six people lived at the service. The accommodation is provided in one adapted building with bedrooms on the ground and first floor.

The service had 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.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties and larger than those in the area. It was registered for the support of up to six people. Six people were using the service. This is in line with current best practice guidance. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

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

People did not always receive safe care. Where safeguarding concerns arose, these were not consistently identified and referred to the appropriate body. Whilst some checks to ensure staff were competent to administer medicines had been recorded this was not consistent. Staff had been recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Personal protective equipment was used when required.

People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to do so effectively and the service worked with relevant healthcare professionals when appropriate. People received support to eat and drink meals of their choosing and specialist dietary needs were met.

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 did not always support this practice. Mental capacity decisions were recorded but the evidence of how these decisions had been assessed and how people were included was not.

People were supported by kind and caring staff who respected their privacy and dignity and supported their independence.

Records held personalised information about people and staff knew people's preferences with regards to their care. People were supported to access the community on a regular basis and carry out activities

in line with their hobbies and interests. The provider had a complaints process to share any concerns.

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. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People, relatives and staff felt the management team were approachable and supportive. Whilst some audits and checks were in place at the service further improvements were required in order to make them more robust. There had been a failure to notify CQC of all incidents that had happened at the service.

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 (published 02 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to governance, safeguarding and in the provider’s failure to notify the commission of allegations of abuse.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.