Drakes Place

Updated 14 September 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 29 and 30 August 2018 and was announced.

One adult social care inspector, one medicines inspector and one expert by experience carried out the inspection. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This form asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the information in the PIR and looked at other information we held about the service. At our last inspection of the service in February 2016, we did not find any concerns with the care provided to people.

During our inspection, we met with 10 people who used the service, the registered manager, one deputy manager and nine support workers. Some people who used the service were unable to communicate verbally and therefore we observed their interaction with staff and spoke with one friend and three family members who were closely involved in people’s care and support. We also contacted six Health and social care professionals requesting feedback about the service delivered at Drakes Place. Two professionals responded to our request.

We looked at records relevant to the management of the service. This included 10 care plans, risk assessments, staff recruitment files, training records, medicine records, complaint and incident reports and performance monitoring reports.

Updated 14 September 2018

The inspection was announced and took place on 29 and 30 August 2018.

We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice because we wanted to make sure the provider was available on the day of the inspection. We also wanted to speak with people who used the service and wanted to be certain they were available to meet with us.

Drakes Place is a 26-bedded service for adults with a learning disabilities or physical disabilities. The home is split into three separate homes (units) with support from one staff team. All areas can be accessed from the main home, although each unit has its own front door and individual names that included, The Oaks and Squirrel Park. The main home had 14 beds, The Oaks had five beds and supported people with physical disabilities, and Squirrel Park had eight beds and supported people with more complex learning disabilities. The home had the benefit of a hydrotherapy pool. All people living at the home could access the pool with support from staff. At the time of the inspection there were 24 people living in the home.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that showed serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The people we met on the day of the inspection had complex physical and learning disabilities. Some of the people we met could verbally communicate with us and others could not. To capture the opinions of people who could not communicate directly with us, we saw people’s interactions with staff and their reactions. We also spoke to people’s relatives to help us form a judgement.

The service had 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. Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Why the service is rated Good.

People told us they felt safe living at Drakes Place. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. There were enough numbers of staff available to keep people safe.

Staff supported people safely with their medicines if required. Staff had proper skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and support.

Staff asked people for their consent before delivering care or support and they respected people’s choice to refuse care. The provider was responsive to people’s needs. Staff supported people, and involved them, (as far as they were able), to draw up and agree their own support plan.

The provider worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure each person received a support package tailored to meet their individual needs. The provider sought people’s feedback and took action to address issues raised. There was a system in place to manage and investigate any complaints

There was a management structure in the service, which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. There were effective quality assurance arrangements at the service in order to raise standards and drive improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below