Archived: Edward Street

Updated 22 April 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 28 March 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

As part of the inspection, we reviewed the information available to us about the home, such as the notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. Prior to the inspection, the provider also 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. We also spoke with the local authority’s quality assurance and contracts team to gather feedback, and they told us that the service was subject to an improvement plan and progress had been made.

During the inspection, we spoke with five people face to face and two relatives over the telephone. The people living in the home had a variety of methods of communication. Some people were able to tell us what they thought about the service verbally, others could indicate by gestures or by using a talk board. We also spoke with six members of staff, including three care support workers, a team coordinator, the regional manager and the registered manager. We checked three people's care records and two medicines administration records (MARs). We also checked records relating to how the service is run and monitored, such as audits, recruitment, training and health and safety records. Throughout the inspection, we observed how staff supported people with their care during the day whilst in the communal areas.

Updated 22 April 2017

This inspection was undertaken on 28 March 2017 and was unannounced.

1-3 Edward Street is a purpose built care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to six people who have a physical disability. The service consists of two linked bungalows each accommodating three people. The home is located in a residential area of Widnes and is within easy access of the local amenities. The property is owned by a housing trust and managed by Scope.

At the last inspection undertaken on 24 November and 2 December 2014, the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People continued to be safe at Edward Street. Staff knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse or harm. They followed appropriate guidance to minimise identified risks to people's health, safety and welfare. There were enough staff to keep people safe. The registered manager told us there were current staff vacancies and they were recruiting new staff. When recruitment was complete this would improve the flexibility of support available for outside activities.

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 received appropriate training and were supported by the registered manager through supervision and meetings, to enable them to meet people's needs effectively.

We observed positive and caring relationship between staff and people using the service. People spoken with confirmed that they were treated in a kind and caring manner. The privacy and dignity of people was supported by the approach of staff.

People had personalised support plans which set out how their care and support needs should be met by staff. These had all been re-written and were reviewed regularly. Staff communicated with people using their preferred methods of communication. We found that they had developed a good understanding of people's needs, preferences and wishes. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and work towards their goals and aspirations.

People participated in activities and events to meet their social and physical needs. The registered manager told us that this was an area they were developing and aimed to increase the range and flexibility of outings and activities people participated in. People’s feedback was sought about how improvements could be made to the service. People spoken with told us that they knew how to complain should they need to.

Good management and leadership continued to be demonstrated. Staff were motivated and positive about the management of the service and told us that they could approach the registered manager with any concerns. The registered manager told us they were working towards a service improvement plan and had been working collaboratively with the local authority. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.