Gloscare

Updated 13 February 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 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 24 January 2018 and was announced. We gave the service advance notice of the inspection site visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the home providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. This inspection was completed by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We contacted the commissioners of the service to obtain their views about the care provided to people.

During our inspection we observed the care provided to two people and spent time speaking with them. We spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff. We spoke with three relatives and contacted a health care professional for feedback. We looked at the care records for two people, including their medicines records. We looked at the recruitment records for one new member of staff, training records and quality assurance systems.

Updated 13 February 2018

Gloscare 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. Gloscare can accommodate two people. At the time of our inspection there were two people living there who were diagnosed as having an autistic spectrum disorder. They live in a small, terraced house in a street in the middle of Gloucester. They each have their own bedroom which they have personalised and share a bathroom, kitchen and lounge/dining room. The garden is accessible and has a sun lounge which one person likes to use.

Gloscare has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support, Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This inspection took place on 24 January 2018. At the last comprehensive inspection in October 2015 the service was rated as Good overall.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People received highly individualised care and support which reflected their aspirations, hopes and routines so important to them. Staff understood them really well, anticipating their feelings and emotions, helping them to make the most of each day as calmly as possible. People’s needs had been assessed and they were involved in developing their care and support with staff. If they wanted to change any aspects of this, it was discussed with staff and care records were updated. 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.

People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. They had developed the confidence to do as much as they could for themselves. People felt safe living in the home and accessing their community with staff support. They enjoyed a wide range of activities which reflected their hobbies and lifestyle choices. One person proudly attended a nursery to attend to their allotment without staff support. They attended social clubs, swimming, bowling and a church service. Contact with friends and family was important and being maintained.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. They chose their weekly menus which were served with portions of fresh vegetables and salad. They helped themselves to drinks and fruit. Each person had a health action plan which described their health care needs. They had annual check-ups with their GP and regular reviews with another specialist healthcare professional. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People had access to sufficient staff to meet their needs who had been through a satisfactory recruitment process. Staff felt supported in their roles and had access to refresher training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Staff were knowledgeable about people, their backgrounds and individual needs. They treated people with respect and sensitivity, anticipating their moods and emotions. They had worked together well as a team for a number of years and this consistency had benefited the people they supported. Staff understood how to keep people safe and were confident any concerns they raised would be listened to and the appropriate action taken in response.

People’s views and the opinions of their relatives and staff were sought to make improvements to the service provided. People met formally each month to talk about their needs and any concerns they might have. They also talked with staff daily about any issues which were dealt with as they arose. Annual surveys had been completed with evidence of positive feedback from relatives. The provider and registered manager worked as part of the team enabling them to lead by example and to also ensure their values were embedded in people’s experience of their care. People told us, “This is the best home I have ever lived in; it’s excellent” and “This is where we are comfortable.”