Walnut Close

Updated 23 January 2019

The inspection:

• 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.’

Inspection team:

• The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Service and service type:

• Walnut Close is a supported living service. It provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

• The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

• We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and people spend a lot of time away from the property. We needed to be sure both the manger and people using the service would be in.

What we did:

• Prior to the inspection we reviewed information and evidence we already held about the service, which had been collected via our ongoing monitoring of care services. This included notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send to us without delay. We also asked for feedback from the local authority, housing provider and professionals who work with the home. Feedback received was positive and reported no concerns.

• We asked the service to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

• During the inspection we spoke with all three people living at the home.

• We spoke with the registered manager and three care staff.

• We reviewed three care files, three staff personnel files, two medicine administration records and other records about the management of the service.

Updated 23 January 2019

About the service:

• Walnut Close is a small specialist service providing care and support to people living with complex needs. The service is operated by Hexagon Care Services. The property is owned and managed by a Registered Social Landlord and each person living at Walnut Close is considered a tenant and therefore subject to a tenancy agreement. At the time of the inspection three people were living at Walnut Close.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The service continued to provide people with safe care which met their needs and wishes. People had been involved in assessing risks and determining how these would be addressed.

• The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff were aware of what action to take, should they suspect or witness any abuse. Safeguarding information was clearly displayed within the service and written in a way which made it accessible to everyone.

• Staff had all received initial and ongoing training, to ensure their knowledge and skills were up to date. Completion of external qualifications was encouraged and promoted.

• Staffing levels were determined by people’s plans and activities. Rotas demonstrated sufficient staff had been deployed to support people to do the things they wanted to.

• 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.

• Care files contained personalised information about the people using the service and how they wished to be supported. People had been involved in setting up their care plans and completed regular reviews to ensure information was accurate and reflected current needs.

• People’s social, recreational, educational and employment needs were promoted and supported. People had been assisted to enrol and complete college courses, voluntary work and attend social events of their choosing, with an emphasis placed on integrating safely and successfully within the local community.

• Both people and staff’s views on the service were sought through meetings and questionnaires, with action points generated and shared.

• The service had a range of systems and procedures in place to monitor the quality and effectiveness of the service. Action plans had been completed to promote continuous improvement.

• The service met the characteristics for a rating of ‘good’ in all key questions.

• More information is in the full report.

Rating at last inspection:

• At our last inspection the service was rated as ‘good’. The last report was published on 28 April 2016.

Why we inspected:

• This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received. Inspection timescales are based on the rating awarded at the last inspection and any information and intelligence received since we inspected.

Follow up:

• We will continue to monitor information and intelligence we receive about the service to ensure care remains safe and of good quality. We will return to re-inspect in line with our inspection timescales for good services, however if any information of concern is received, we may inspect sooner.