Archived: RNID Action on Hearing Loss Fosse Bank House

Updated 23 January 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.

This inspection took place on 6 and 7 December 2017. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location is a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day; we therefore needed to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector. They were supported by a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter; this was to help ensure people who used the service were able to tell us about their experiences.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make.

In preparation for our visit, we reviewed information that we held about the home such as notifications (events which happened in the home that the provider is required by law to tell us about). We also contacted the Local Authority commissioning and safeguarding teams, the local Healthwatch organisation as well as community based professionals to gather their views about the service.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, five people who used the service and two members of staff. We observed staff interaction with people in the communal areas of the service. With permission, we also looked at one of the newly built flats occupied by one person supported by the service.

We looked at the care records and medication administration record (MAR) charts for three people who used the service. In addition we looked at a range of records relating to how the service was managed; these included two staff personnel files, staff training records, a sample of policies and procedures, meeting minutes as well as records relating to the monitoring of the service provision.

Updated 23 January 2018

This announced inspection took place on 6 and 7 December 2017. We had previously carried out an inspection in May 2015 at which the service was rated Good. Since the last inspection, two additional flats had been built on the site, both of which were fully wheelchair accessible.

RNID Action on Hearing Loss Fosse Bank House (referred to as Fosse Bank House throughout the report) 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.

Fosse Bank House provides personal care and accommodation for up to eight people aged between 18-65 who are deaf or have significant hearing loss and additional support needs. Accommodation is provided in individual self-contained flats with on-site staff support. Communal areas are also available to promote socialisation. At the time of our inspection there were seven people using the service.

The provider had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found the service was extremely responsive to people’s needs. The registered manager was creative in the approaches they used to ensure people were involved in decisions about their placement at Fosse Bank House. They had also taken immediate action, outside of normal working hours, to ensure a person admitted to the home had the necessary equipment in place so that staff were able to provide them with safe care which protected their dignity.

Staff were aware of equality and diversity issues in relation to the people they supported. Action was taken to help ensure people did not experience barriers when accessing the community. People were supported to access a range of activities; these activities provided people with opportunities to develop their skills, as well as promoting their well-being, independence and social inclusion. People told us staff supported them to maintain contact with their friends and family. The provider gave each individual funding to help ensure they were able to take holidays or excursions in the UK or abroad; this helped to prevent social isolation and enabled people to experience different cultures.

People were supported by staff who were caring and compassionate. Staff had a good understanding of the communication needs of the people they supported. Staff used British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate with people and all information was produced in formats people were easily able to access, including Easy Read, pictorial, BSL and DVD.

People were treated with the utmost respect at all times. Staff protected their privacy, involved them in decisions about their support needs and promoted their independence.

There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs. People who used the service were involved in the recruitment and selection of staff; this helped to ensure only suitable staff were employed. Staff knew the correct action to take to protect people from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm. Staff supported people to receive their medicines safely. All the people we spoke with told us they felt safe in Fosse Bank House

Detailed risk assessments were in place in relation to each individual’s care and health needs as well as any environmental risks; these helped to protect the health and welfare of people who used the service and staff. People were provided with a range of equipment to help ensure their safety and independence; these included flashing lights and doorbells as well as vibrating pillows to alert people to an emergency in the service.

People were cared for in a safe and clean environment. Staff had received appropriate training to manage the risk of cross infection in the home. They told us, if necessary, they would provide people with support to maintain the cleanliness of their own property.

Staff received the induction, training and supervision necessary to help them to deliver effective care. People were supported to have 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 understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and appropriate arrangements were in place to help protect the rights of people who were unable to consent to their care in Fosse Bank House.

People were supported to have a healthy diet. Systems were in place to help ensure people’s health and nutritional needs were met.

Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and goals. They demonstrated a commitment to providing high quality support which was personalised and tailored to the needs of each individual. We saw that people who used the service were involved in reviewing their support plans and making changes to these plans as their needs or interests changed.

Staff we spoke with told us they enjoyed working in the service and that the registered manager was supportive and approachable. Regular staff meetings meant that staff were able to make suggestions about how the service could be improved. Staff told us their views were always listened to.

Robust systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service; these helped to ensure people received a good service that supported their health, welfare and well-being. The registered manager demonstrated a drive for continuous improvement in the service.