Archived: Sunnybrook Close

Updated 16 May 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014. The inspection was carried out by a social care inspector.

Service and service type:

Sunnybrook Close is a residential home for up to three people with learning disabilities. 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 did not give the service notice of our visit.

What we did:

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service which included notifications they had sent us. Notifications are sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to inform us of events relating to the service which they must inform us of by law. We looked at previous inspection reports and reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR 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.

During the inspection we spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager and two support workers. We observed staff interacting with people and supporting them.

Some people were unable to tell us about their experiences of living at Sunnybrook Close because of communication difficulties. We therefore used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at records relating to the management of the service including two people’s support plans and associated records. We reviewed the medicine administration records for one person and a staff file including recruitment records. We reviewed minutes of meetings and a selection of quality assurance audits and health and safety records. Following the inspection, we spoke with two relatives on the telephone about the care their family member received at Sunnybrook Close.

Updated 16 May 2019

About the service:

Sunnybrook Close is a residential care home that was providing personal and nursing care to three people at the time of the inspection. 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.

Sunnybrook Close is a three-bedroom bungalow with a rear back garden. Adaptations have been made to accommodate the needs of the people living there.

The service 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

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways promotion of choice and control, independence, inclusion e.g. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain or maintain skills and become or maintain their independence.

People’s experience of using this service:

The service was rated good in all domains. This was because we found systems were in place to ensure the safety of people living in the service. Checks had been completed on essential safety apparatus such as fire protection equipment and hoists. Services such as gas and electricity had been maintained.

One person’s relatives told us “The staff are wonderful, loving and caring. I have the highest regard for them all.”

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives through the support of advocates. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s nutritional and dietary needs were assessed, documented and care was provided in line with their needs. External professionals provided advice when needed.

People were treated equally by the staff. Training was provided to staff the area of equality and diversity.

Information about people was being recorded in a respectful and dignified way. Records were not always up to date and clear in their content. This was because people’s needs were changing quickly. The registered manager was looking at ways to ensure records kept pace with the change, to ensure information provided appropriate direction for staff in how to care for people. People’s health care needs were monitored closely.

Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager. The staff in the service were caring. They told us they worked well as a team. They respected each other and supported each other.

They also received support through regular training, supervision and team meetings.

Staff were trained and knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Where concerns had been raised these had been dealt with appropriately.

A recruitment system was in place that minimised the risk of unsafe candidates being employed.

Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of by trained staff.

Effective quality assurance tools were in place to drive forward improvements, these had been used and their impact was apparent.

People participated in activities to protect them from the risk of social isolation.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured 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.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated good. (Published on 4 November 2016).

Why we inspected:

This inspection was carried out in line with our inspection schedule.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk