Wells Road

Updated 29 October 2020

This was a targeted inspection to see how the provider had been addressing incidents of behaviours that challenge between people at the service. We had been sent regular notifications about these incidents and we visited to assure ourselves that people were safe and the home was well led. We will assess all the key questions at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Wells Road is a care home providing accommodation for up to six people, this includes people living with mental health needs and/or a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were six people living at the home.

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

This inspection was announced. We gave the service short notice. This was to make sure the home was safe to visit during the Pandemic.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection. We had requested information from the provider prior to the inspection and this information was used as part of the inspection plan.

During the inspection we spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager. We also spoke with five people who lived at the home.

Updated 29 October 2020

The inspection took place on 31 January 2018 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in November 2015, the service was meeting the regulations inspected.

Wells Road Care Home is registered with us to support up to six people with complex learning disabilities and or mental health needs. At the time of our visit there were six people living there.

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. This means people with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live life to their full potential.

There was a registered manager for the service. 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.

People told us they felt safe and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of harm and abuse in the home and when they were in the community. Risks that people may face were identified and then managed safely. Medicines were managed safely. People were able to look after their own medicines. This was with assistance from staff when needed.

People were involved in planning menus and their wishes in relation to meal choices were included in the options available. People were supported to eat and drink enough to stay healthy. People were supported to build up confidence in self budgeting and preparing and cooking their own meals.

Staff were properly supported to do their job effectively. This was because they were well supervised in their work. Staff were also being trained and updated. This meant they knew how to provide people with effective care.

People we met were positive in their views of the staff team and how they supported them. People felt well supported with their particular and often complex needs. People were treated with warmth and attentiveness from the staff that supported them at the home. We saw how staff spent plenty of time speaking with people they were supporting. There were also many positive and warm interactions between them. People looked relaxed with the staff when they wanted to speak with them.

People’s range of needs were assessed and their care was properly planned with their involvement if this was what they wanted. Care plans supported and set out for staff the care to be delivered. This was explained in detail in a way that properly met the needs of the person that the care plan was about. The staff team conveyed to us they had an up to date understanding and insight into the complex needs of the people they supported.

There were systems in place to protect people’s rights in the home. The staff followed the Mental Capacity Act 2005 if people lacked capacity to make informed decisions in their daily lives. The provider had completed an application under the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards for one person. This had been accepted and DoLS safeguards were in place for the person concerned.

The registered manager investigated and responded to people’s complaints, promptly and openly. They did this by ensuring they followed the provider’s complaints procedure.

People were supported to take part in activities and events that were meaningful to them in the home and the local community. Staff supported people to gain independence with a wide range of activities in the home and the community.

People who lived at the home felt supported by the registered manager. People also said they could approach and see the registered manager at any time if they wanted to speak with them.

The registered manager worked hard to learn from any mistakes and to make sure people were safe. The registered manager was open and transparent in their approach to running the home. They understood the requirements of the duty of candour. The duty of candour is a legal obligation to act in an open and transparent way when running social care or health service.

There were a number of quality monitoring systems and checks being carried out of the service. These were to monitor the care and service people received. Recent health and safety checks had identified the need for actions to be taken to keep the environment free from safety hazards. Health and safety audits showed that risks to people were identified and the actions needed to keep people safe were set out.