Index Care 88 Abbey Wood Road

Updated 18 October 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 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 unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 17 August 2017. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This information included statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also asked the local authority commissioning the service for their views of the service.

The service is registered to provide personal care for up to seven people with mild/moderate learning disabilities. On the day of the inspection there were seven people using the service. We spent time observing the care and support being delivered. We spoke with two people using the service, two members of staff and the new manager. We reviewed records, including the care records of the four people using the service, recruitment files and training records for four members of staff. We also looked at records related to the management of the service such quality audits, accident and incident records and policies and procedures.

Updated 18 October 2017

This inspection took place on 17 August 2017and was unannounced. At our last inspection on 01 September 2016, we found improvements were needed in relation to medicine room temperatures not being monitored and documented and the service did not have a medicine fridge. Systems in place to audit and check the service were not entirely effective as issues found at the inspection had not been identified by the provider.

At this inspection on 17 August 2017, we found improvements had been made in relation to medicine room temperatures were monitored and documented on a daily basis and there was medicines fridge available should it become necessary for medicines to be stored in the fridge.

88 Abbey Wood Road is a service which provides care and support for up to seven people with mild/moderate learning disabilities. There were seven people using the service at the time of our inspection.

The service had a registered manager who had been in place since February 2016. 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.

Appropriate safeguarding adult's procedures were in place and staff knew and understood how to safeguard people they supported. There was a whistle-blowing procedure available and staff said they would use it if they needed to. Risks to people were identified and monitored and provided clear information and guidance for staff on how to support people. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded appropriately. Appropriate recruitment checks were carried out before staff started work. The provider had carried out appropriate pre-employment checks to ensure staff were suitable and fit to support people using the service. There were enough staff deployed to meet people's care and support needs. Accidents and incidents were recorded and followed up in a timely manner.

Staff received appropriate training and support to carry out their roles and staff training was up to date. Staff received regular supervisions, appraisals. There were processes in place to ensure staff new to the service were inducted into the service appropriately. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005(MCA). Staff asked people for their consent before they provided care. People were supported to have a balanced diet. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals when required in order to maintain good health.

People said staff were kind and caring and their privacy and dignity was respected. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible.

People were involved in their care planning which was person-centred and identified people’s needs, choices and preferences. Care plans provided clear guidance for staff on how to support people in line with their individual needs. People participated in a range of personalised activities which protected them from social isolation. Regular service user meetings were held to obtain people’s feedback. People knew about the complaints procedure and said they would use it complain if they needed to.

There were effective processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People’s views had been sought about the service to help drive improvements. Regular staff meetings took place and the service sought people’s feedback about the service. People and staff were complimentary about the service and the registered manager.