Dimensions 7 Huntley Close

Updated 12 March 2019

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 was a fully comprehensive inspection. The inspection took place on the 13 February 2019. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location is a small care home for adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure the registered manager was available and that we could meet some of the people and staff.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications we had been sent by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection, we observed care because people were able to indicate their feelings through gestures, facial expressions or limited verbal responses. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager a regional member of the management team and five staff.

We looked at care plans and associated records for two people and records relating to the management of the service. These included two staff recruitment files, records of complaints, accidents and incidents, and quality assurance records. We observed care and support being delivered in communal areas.

Updated 12 March 2019

Care service description

Dimensions 7 Huntley Close is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Dimensions 7 Huntley Close accommodates up to six people with learning disabilities in one adapted building. There were six people at the service at the time of inspection.

All the accommodation is on the ground floor which allows people, including those who use a wheelchair, to have full access.

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. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Rating at last inspection

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

.

Rating at this inspection

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

The registered manager also managed one of the provider’s other services and divided their time between the two homes. There was a clear management structure in place which meant that there was enough support in place for staff.

People received safe care because staff knew the risks each person faced and the actions to take to minimise these risks. Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from abuse and report any concerns. There were enough staff to provide each person with the support they needed in all aspects of their life. People received the medicines they needed safely. Safe arrangements were in place in the event of the home being unusable. The staff learnt from any accidents and incidents to improve the care people received.

Staff underwent comprehensive induction training and then attended regular training which developed their skills and knowledge. They used this training in practice to deliver safe and effective care. Staff were safely recruited and they understood how to prevent infections. People’s needs were regularly assessed and there were detailed care plans to guide the staff in the support they offered to people. People had access to all health care services and staff knew when people needed medical help or advice.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this good practice. People had enough food and drink of their choice to keep them well and healthy.

There was considerable wear and tear which, although did not affect people’s safety, required repair or replacement and the registered manager was working to ensure the housing association made those repairs.

People were supported by kind and caring staff. Staff assisted people to be involved as much as possible in their own care. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff provided all personal care in private. Families and friends were welcome to visit and staff supported people to visit their family homes.

Each person was treated as an individual. Their care was planned according to their individual needs, wishes and preferences. There were many opportunities for people to enjoy a range of activities inside and outside the home. There had not been any complaints but there was a system in place for complaints to be investigated and used as an opportunity to improve.

Relatives said that because they had regular contact with staff and managers they were satisfied to discuss issues as they arose, and these were responded to well. Where it had been discussed people’s end of life wishes were included in people’s care plans but there was scope to include more information.

The registered manager and staff had clearly defined roles and they all worked together for the benefit of the people they supported. The staff felt supported and valued and they shared information they needed to offer the right support to people. The registered manager and provider used a system to evaluate the quality of the service and this was used to make improvements. The staff and registered manager worked with others including health professionals to make sure people received good care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below