Archived: Clarence Gardens

Updated 29 April 2015

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 inspection took place on 17 March 2015 and was unannounced.

At the time of our inspection there were three people staying at the service. During our visit we spoke and spent time with all three people, spoke with five members of staff which included the training facilitator and regional manager. We spent some time looking at documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We looked at three people’s support plans. After the inspection we also spoke by telephone with two people’s relatives.

As this was a small service, the inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the home, including previous inspection reports. We contacted the local authority and Healthwatch. We were not aware of any concerns by the local authority. Healthwatch feedback stated they had no comments or concerns. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

Updated 29 April 2015

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on the 17 March 2015. At the last inspection in April 2014 we found the provider met the all regulations we looked at.

Clarence Gardens provides a short breaks service for four people at one time between the ages of 18 to 65. The accommodation is purpose built and is on one level. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities. There is a lounge, dining room, games room and kitchen. The home is approximately one mile from Wakefield city entre and is on the main bus route.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service and their relatives told us they or their family member felt safe at the home.

There were effective systems in place to ensure people’s safety and manage risks to people who used the service, whilst also encouraging and promoting their independence. Staff could describe the procedures in place to safeguard people from abuse and unnecessary harm.

Recruitment practices were robust and thorough and included people who used the service.

Appropriate arrangements were in place to manage the medicines of people who used the service. People received their prescribed medication when they needed it and staff were trained in medicines management.

People were cared for by sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff. We saw staff received the training and support required to meet people’s needs well. Staff spoke highly of their training and said this prepared them well for their role.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs and preferences. People had detailed, individualised support plans in place which described all aspects of their support needs and wishes.

Staff were trained in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), and could describe how people were supported to make decisions to enhance their capacity and where people did not have the capacity decisions had to be in their best interests.

People were supported by staff who treated them with kindness and were respectful of their privacy and dignity. Suitable arrangements were in place and people were supported and provided with a choice of suitable food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs and preferences were met.

People participated in a range of activities both in the home and in the community and received the support they needed to help them do this. People were able to choose where they spent their time and what they did.

Staff had good relationships with the people who stayed at the home. Staff were aware of how to support people to raise concerns and complaints and we saw the provider learnt from complaints and suggestions and made improvements to the service.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.