19 Forrest Road

Updated 1 June 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 the 3 May 2018. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because some people may be anxious with strangers in their home and this would give staff time to inform and prepare them for our visit.

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 is a form that asks the provider to give us key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the completed PIR and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about in law.

We spoke with four people, three relatives, three care staff, the operations manager and the registered manager. We looked at four people’s care records, four staff files and medicine administration records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service. The methods we used to gather information included pathway tracking, which is capturing the experiences of a sample of people by following a person’s route through the service and getting their views on their care.

Updated 1 June 2018

The inspection took place on 3 May 2018 and was announced. 19 Forrest Road is registered to provide accommodation without nursing for up to six younger adults with a learning disability or who may experience autism. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service.

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.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good overall.

Why the service is rated Good:

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.

At the last inspection in March 2016 we found a breach of Regulation 19 HSCA RA Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed. The service had not consistently conducted sufficient checks to ensure prospective staff were safe to work with vulnerable people. At this inspection we found action had been taken and improvements made.

The service had robust recruitment procedures in place and conducted background checks of all prospective staff. References were obtained and criminal background checks were recorded ensuring staff were suitable for their roles.

People remained safe living in the service. There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs and staff had time to spend with people. Risk assessments were carried out and promoted positive risk taking which enabled people to live their lives as they chose. People received their medicines safely.

People continued to receive effective care from staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them and meet their needs. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the procedures in the service supported this practice. People were supported to access health professionals when needed and staff worked closely with people's GPs to ensure their health and well-being was monitored. People’s nutritional needs were met.

The service continued to provide support in a caring way. Staff supported people with kindness and compassion. Staff respected people as individuals and treated them with dignity. People were involved in decisions about their care needs and the support they required to meet those needs.

People had access to information about their care and staff supported people in their preferred method of communication. Staff also provided people with emotional support.

The service continued to be responsive to people's needs and ensured people were supported in a personalised way. People's changing needs were responded to promptly and their views were sought and acted upon.

The service was well led by a registered manager who promoted a service that put people at the forefront of all the service did. There was a positive culture that valued people, relatives and staff and promoted a caring ethos. The service had strong links with the local community.

The registered manager monitored the quality of the service and strived for continuous improvement. There was a very clear vision to deliver high quality care and support and promote a positive culture that was person-centred, open and inclusive. This achieved positive outcomes for people and contributed to their quality of life. The registered manager was robustly supported by the operations manager.