Archived: 4 Piggy Lane

Updated 12 April 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 3 March 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of three inspectors and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is somebody who has experience of using this type of service. The expert’s area of expertise was adult social care.

Before the inspection, 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 reviewed records held by us about the service including notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at the inspection.

Some of the people who used the service had communication and language difficulties and because of this we were unable to fully obtain each of their views on their experiences. We relied mainly on our observations of care and our discussions with people's relatives and staff to form our judgements. During the inspection, we spoke with two people living at the service and three care workers. We also spoke with two team leaders, one member of staff, one agency staff member and the registered manager. We completed general observations of the service, reviewed four people's care records and medicine administration records (MARs).We also looked at records relating to the maintenance of the building and the management of the service.

Updated 12 April 2017

We inspected 4 Piggy Lane on 3 March 2017. 4 Piggy Lane is a service providing a home for people with profound learning and or physical disabilities. The service is located in two bungalows. Each can provide accommodation, care and support for five people. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

There were sufficient staff to meet the needs and preferences of the people who lived in the service. Staff had been recruited safely to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Staff understood their duty to report any concerns should they suspect abuse

Risks to people had been identified and clear plans and guidelines were in place to manage these risks without restricting people's freedom.

People's medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed.

Staff understood how people consented to the care they provided and encouraged people to make decisions about their lives. Care plans and practice reflected the framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been applied for when people needed to live in the home and to be cared for safely but did not have the mental capacity to consent to this.

People were provided with food and drink that suited their preferences and there were systems in place to ensure people had enough to eat and drink. When people needed particular diets or support to eat and drink safely, these were in place.

People had access to healthcare when they needed it and recommendations from healthcare professionals were followed.

People were offered choices regarding their day-to-day lives and were supported to participate in different activities. Staff knew how to communicate effectively with each individual according to their needs. People were relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff. Staff supported people in a way which was kind, caring, and respectful.

People were supported to access meaningful activities to meet their differing needs and interests. People's support plans provided information about the activities people enjoyed.

People and their relatives were encouraged to provide feedback on the quality of the service provided and staff acted on those comments. People and their relatives were provided with information on how they could make a complaint and how their complaint would be managed by staff.

The registered manager informed the Care Quality Commission of notifiable incidents, which occurred at the service. The provider had systems in place that monitored, and reviewed the service to improve the quality of care to people. Improvement plans were developed, and staff implemented any changes to the service to ensure people received effective quality of care.