63 Collier Road

Updated 22 December 2018

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 22 and 27 November 2018 and was announced. The registered manager was called the day before our inspection to let them know we were coming. We did this as the location was a small care home and people are often out during the day; we needed to be sure someone would be in. When planning the inspection, we took account of the size of the service and that some people at the home could find visitors upsetting. As a result, this inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information, we held about the home. This included notifications of events that had affected the service such as any safeguarding investigations. We did not ask the provider to complete a Provider Information Return as this inspection was brought forward. 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.

On the day of inspection, we spoke with two people and we also observed staff interacting with people to help us understand their experience of living at the service. We spoke with the registered manager, assistant manager and two staff members. We spent time reviewing records, which included two care plans. We looked at two staff files, staff rotas and training records. In addition, we viewed documentation related to the management of the service such as accidents and incidents, quality assurance and meeting records. We also 'pathway tracked' the care for two people living at the service. This is where we check the care detailed in individual plans matches the experience of the person receiving care.

Following the inspection, the registered manager sent us a copy of an infection control audit and action plan, training matrix, provider service visits, assistant manager audit, staff rotas, service user assessment (anonymised) and the maintenance tracker. We also received feedback from three health and social care professionals.

Updated 22 December 2018

63 Collier Road is a care home providing social and residential care for up to three people with learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were three people living in the home. People had varied needs related to their learning disabilities. Some had more specialist needs associated with autism and other specialist conditions. People had different communication needs. Some people communicated verbally, and others used gestures, body language and Makaton (a form of sign language) to make their needs known. The provider runs four other care homes locally.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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.

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.

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.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 22 and 27 November 2018 and was announced. The service had a registered manager. 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 were treated with dignity and respect by kind and caring staff. Staff had a very good understanding of people’s complex care and support needs and they had developed positive relationships with people. People were supported to attend health appointments and, if necessary, professionals came to the home for visits. Professionals spoke positively about the service. One health care professional told us, “63 Collier Road has always been a competent, efficient and caring service that cooperate with our specialist services very well.”

People had enough to eat and drink and menus were varied and well balanced. They were supported to take part in a variety of activities to meet their individual needs and wishes. This included aromatherapy, swimming, music sessions, theatres, cafes and restaurants.

There were enough staff who had been appropriately recruited, to meet people’s individual needs. Staff had a very good understanding of the risks associated with supporting people. They knew what actions to take to mitigate these risks and provide a safe environment for people to live. Staff understood what they needed to do to protect people from the risk of abuse. Incidents and accidents were well managed and lessons were learned to pre-empt and avoid similar occurrences. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People’s needs were effectively met because staff attended regular training to update their specialist knowledge and skills around supporting people with autism and behaviours that challenged. Care staff attended regular supervision meetings and told us they were very well supported by the management of the home. People were encouraged to make decisions and choices. They 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 practice.

The provider had effective good systems to monitor the management and quality of the home and through regular internal monitoring the registered manager ensured a range of audits were carried out to monitor the care and support provided. The registered manager had very strong links with local organisations to both gain what would benefit the organisation and to provide support for other services for people with learning disabilities.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.