Royal Mencap Society - 1-2 St Albans Close

Updated 10 September 2019

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

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Royal Mencap Society - 1-2 St Albans Close 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

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

What we did before the inspection

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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We also contacted health and social care commissioners who monitor the care and support that people receive. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service, one relative, three staff, the area manager and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records that included three people’s care records two staff recruitment files, records relating to staff training and supervision and the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and spoke with two relatives who regularly visit the service.

Updated 10 September 2019

Royal Mencap Society - 1-2 St Albans Close is a care home service without nursing. The home provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. The home can accommodate up to seven older adults with learning disabilities in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection six people were receiving care at the home.

Not everyone using the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The home 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 were supported by staff that knew how to keep them safe and knew how to raise any concerns regarding people’s safety with the provider, the relevant safeguarding body and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

People were supported to stay healthy. Staff encouraged people to live healthier lives, encouraged healthy eating and supported people to attend all medical appointments. Staff were committed to enabling people to socialise and develop and maintain relationships

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.

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 care plans included assessments of risks associated with their care. Staff followed the risk assessments to ensure that people received safe care. Staff knew how to respond to and report any concerns about people’s safety and well-being.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff that were safely recruited to meet their needs. Staff supported people to take their prescribed medicines safely. Staff followed good practice infection control guidelines to help prevent the spread of infection.

People were supported by staff who had the right skills and knowledge to provide care that met people’s assessed needs. Staff were alert and responsive to changes in people's needs. They liaised with relatives and health professionals in a timely manner which helped to support people's health and well-being.

The registered manager and the provider closely monitored the quality of care and support people experienced and acted on people's feedback to drive continual improvements in the service.

Policies, procedures and other relevant information was made available to people in formats that met their communication needs, such as easy read and picture styles.

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 09/02/2017).

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.