Background to this inspection
Updated
2 March 2022
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.
As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 27 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.
Updated
2 March 2022
About the service: 1-2 Elmfield Way is a care home for people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions. At the time of our inspection there were four people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
• People using the service experienced positive outcomes. Care was designed to meet their needs and support people to develop their independence. Staff were able to provide positive behavioural support to reduce the risks from behaviour which may challenge by de-escalating situations and maintaining routines which were important to people. People were supported to develop their independence and to improve their health and community involvement.
• The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering 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.
• The provider followed safer recruitment processes. Staffing levels were planned to meet people’s needs. There were sometimes short periods when staffing levels were not safe due to staff sickness and there was not a clear risk management plan to address this. We have made a recommendation about this.
• We observed positive interactions between people using the service and staff. Staff were able to communicate effectively with people using a range of tools. People’s plans were reviewed regularly to make sure their needs and goals were met. The provider worked closely with the local authority and health teams in order to meet people’s needs and manage risks to their health and wellbeing. The provider assessed peoples’ ability to make particular decisions and met legal requirements to act in people’s best interests when they were not able to do so.
• Managers had systems in place to ensure good communication, to develop staff skills and knowledge and to ensure the service remained of a good standard. There were systems to learn from incidents and from people and the service was open about when things had gone wrong. People were safeguarded from abuse and improper treatment. People’s medicines were safely managed with appropriate oversight and measures to prevent over-medication.
• A relative of a person using the service told us, “Overall I’m completely satisfied with Elmfield Way and the staff, they’re very very nice. All of them.”
Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection we rated the service ‘requires improvement’. Breaches of regulations were also found. At this inspection we found the provider was now meeting these regulations.
Why we inspected: This was a routine inspection. We also carried out this inspection to check that the provider had followed their action plan.
Follow up: The service has been rated ‘good. We will continue to monitor the service and will carry out another comprehensive inspection within 30 months of this report.