This inspection took place on 31 October 2017 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service since they registered with the CQC in November 2016. They were formally known and registered as Community Options Limited - 33 Albemarle Road. 33 Albemarle Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
33 Albemarle Road is a rehabilitation and recovery residential care home that provides support for up to seven adults with mental health and complex needs. At the time of our inspection the home was providing support to six people. The home had a registered manager in post, however they were absent from the service and an acting manager had been appointed to manage the service in their absence. 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 safeguarding policies and procedures in place and people told us they felt safe and staff treated them well. Assessments were conducted to assess levels of risk to people’s physical and mental health and these were reviewed regularly. Medicines were stored, managed and administered safely. There were arrangements in place to deal with emergencies. There were safe recruitment practices in place and appropriate numbers of staff were available to meet people’s needs.
Staff new to the home were inducted into the service appropriately. Staff received appropriate training, supervision and support. People told us they were consulted about their support needs. People were supported to meet their nutritional needs. People had access to health and social care professional when required. People were provided with appropriate information and were supported to make choices available to them.
There were systems in place which ensured the service complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005). This provides protection for people who do not have capacity to make decisions for themselves. People were treated with respect and their support needs and risks were identified and assessed. People were provided with information on how to make a complaint. People were asked for their views about the service. There were systems in place to evaluate and monitor the quality of the service provided.