188 Whitley Wood Lane Respite Care

Updated 8 December 2017

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 7 and 10 November 2017. It was announced and was carried out by two inspectors on the first day and one inspector on the second day. We gave the registered manager 48 hours' notice of our inspection as this is a small service and we needed to be sure staff would be available.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Prior to the inspection we looked at the PIR and all the information we had collected about the service. This included previous inspection reports, information received and notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection we spoke with four people who use the service and five of their relatives over the telephone. We also spoke with the registered manager, two senior support workers and five support workers. We observed interactions between people who use the service and staff during the two days of our inspection. As part of the inspection we requested feedback from eight community professionals and received responses from three. We received additional feedback from seven members of the care staff team in the form of completed questionnaires.

We looked at four people's care plans, monitoring records and medication sheets, staff training records and the staff supervision log. Medicines administration, storage and handling were checked. We reviewed a number of other documents relating to the management of the service. For example, the electrical equipment safety check certificates, gas safety certificate, electrical wiring certificate, fire risk assessment, fire safety checks, legionella risk assessment and the complaints, compliments and incidents records.

Updated 8 December 2017

188 Whitley Wood Lane Respite Care is a care home without nursing that provides a respite care service for up to six people at a time with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. People stay at the service for short periods, depending on an annual allocation of respite care nights. People and their carers are assessed for eligibility for respite care by Reading Borough Council. Once eligibility has been agreed, the number of nights per year are allocated depending on need. At the time of our inspection the service had 22 people in total who use the service for short term breaks throughout the year. Over the two days of our inspection there were four people staying for a short respite break, one stayed on both days and three others on the second day.

This inspection took place on 7 and 10 November 2017 and was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours' notice of our inspection as this is a small service and we needed to be sure staff would be available.

At the last inspection in November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good and had continued to meet all the fundamental standards of quality and safety.

Why the service remained Good:

The staff team were caring and respectful and provided support in the way people preferred. People's rights to confidentiality, dignity and privacy were respected. People were enabled and encouraged to develop and maintain their independence wherever possible.

People received care and support that was personalised to meet their individual needs. People were able to continue their usual daily activities during their stay at the service. The service also provided access to the local community to enhance social activities. This meant people were able to access activities that took into account their individual interests and links with different communities.

Staff had a good understanding of how to keep people safe and protect them from abuse. Personal and environmental risks to the safety of people, staff and visitors had been assessed and actions had been mostly taken to minimise those risks. We found some issues identified on a legionella risk assessment from May 2017 had not been actioned. The registered manager arranged for the outstanding work to be carried out by the end of November 2017.

Recruitment processes were in place to make sure, as far as possible, that people were protected from staff being employed who were not suitable. There were sufficient numbers of staff and medicines were stored and handled correctly.

People benefitted from a staff team that was well trained and supervised. We have made a recommendation that future ongoing staff training be updated in line with the latest best practice guidelines for social care staff.

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 supported to eat and drink enough and their health and social care needs were met.

People were relaxed and there was an open and inclusive atmosphere at the service. Staff were happy in their jobs and there was a good team spirit. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of care being delivered and the running of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings in the full report.