The Homesteads

Updated 28 December 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 was planned to check 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.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This inspection took place on the 16 October 2018, and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Prior to the inspection we reviewed this and other information we held about the service, we looked at the previous inspection report and notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We spoke with three people using the service, who were all able to articulate their experience within the service, we also spoke to the registered manager, one senior carer and two of the support staff. We reviewed three people’s care files. We also looked at quality monitoring, audit information and policies held at the service and the service’s staff support records for the members of staff including the registered manager.

Updated 28 December 2018

The Homesteads provides accommodation and care for up to eight people with a learning disability. There were eight people living in the service on the day of our inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse. People’s health and wellbeing needs were assessed and reviewed to minimise risk to health and wellbeing. The provider had a good management and monitoring structure in place for medication.

The provider’s recruitment processes ensured that appropriate checks were carried out before staff commenced employment. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse.

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 supported this practice.

Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences. Staff always worked hard to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.

People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and when there was a change in people’s care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. Complaints were responded to in a timely manner.

The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis. The registered manager told us that current systems and processes where being updated and improved.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.