Archived: Thorley

Updated 18 December 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 was undertaken by one inspector on 26 November 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a supported living service. We needed to be sure that there would be someone available to support the inspection.

The provider had completed and submitted a Provider Information Return (PIR) in October 2018. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed information we held about the service including notifications. Providers are required to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) about events and incidents that occur in the service.

During our inspection we spoke with the registered manager, the operations manager, two staff members, five people who received care and support and one relative.

We reviewed some of the records including three people’s care and support plans, staff recruitment documents and staff training records.

Updated 18 December 2018

Thorley provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

There were 24 individual apartments within the building (Parkside). There was an office space and staff provided people with a range of services including personal care, medicines management and cleaning services. At this inspection thirteen people received care and support.

At our previous inspection in June 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated 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.

People felt safe using the service. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse and concerns had been reported appropriately to the local authority safeguarding team for review. People had individual risks to their health, safety and wellbeing assessed and plans were in place to mitigate these risks. People were supported by sufficient numbers of safely recruited staff to meet their needs and had access to staff support 24 hours a day.

People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff understood their responsibilities in the event of an emergency such as a fire and learning from any accidents and incidents were discussed in team meetings together with sharing examples of good practice. Staff received training to give them the skills and knowledge to maintain good infection control standards.

People received effective care. People were supported by staff who had received training and supervision for their role. 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 support this practice. Staff helped people with making their breakfast and some snacks however, people were responsible for making their own arrangements for mealtimes. Staff contacted health professionals such as GPs on behalf of people if needed. The service worked closely with external professionals such as occupational therapists where possible to help ensure people received the right support.

People told us they were treated with dignity, respect and kindness. People were supported to make choices, influence decision making and to be as independent as possible. People were involved in planning their care and confidential information such as care plans was stored securely to promote people’s privacy and dignity.

Care plans provided detail about people’s care needs and specific health needs so that staff could recognise if a person’s health condition deteriorated and further support was needed. The service was responsive to people’s changing needs and daily records were completed to indicate the care and support that had been provided. People arranged their own activities within the complex and were regularly asked for their views about how the service was performing and what they felt about their care and support. People knew how to make a complaint if needed and this information was available to them in their care plans.

People said the service was well managed. Staff enjoyed working at the service and said they felt supported in their role. Quality assurance audits were effective in identifying shortfalls and bringing about improvements. People who used the service confirmed they were continually asked if they were satisfied with the care and support provided. The registered manager kept themselves up to date with changes in practice and legislation and informed the CQC of significant events in a timely way which meant we could check that appropriate action had been taken.

Further information is in the detailed findings below