76 Canute Road

Updated 18 January 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 12 December 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. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

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 also reviewed the Provider Information report. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make.

On the day of inspection, we observed staff interacting with people to help us understand the experience of people living at 76 Canute Road. We spoke with the registered manager, assistant manager and two staff members. We spent time reviewing records, which included three care plans. We looked at two staff files and staff rotas. 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 their training matrix, provider service visits, assistant manager audit, supervision programme, infection control audit, meeting minutes, staff rotas and the maintenance tracker. We also received feedback from three health and social care professionals and from one relative.

Updated 18 January 2019

76 Canute Road is a care home providing social and residential care for up to six people with learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were six people living in the home. People had varied needs related to their learning disabilities. Some had more specialist needs associated with Autism and epilepsy. People who lived at the service were adults below the age of sixty five years old. People had different communication needs. Some people had limited verbal communication, and other people used gestures and body 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 11 December 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. The registered manager was also the manager of four other homes locally.

People’s needs were effectively met because staff had the specialist training and skills they needed to meet people’s complex needs. Staff attended regular supervision meetings and received an annual appraisal of their performance. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible. 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.

Staff had a very good understanding of the care and support needs of people and had developed positive relationships with them. People were supported to attend health appointments, such as the GP or dentist and where appropriate professionals visited them at Canute Road. People had enough to eat and drink and menus were varied and well balanced.

People were observed to be relaxed and content in their surroundings and there was warm and friendly atmosphere in the home. People were supported to take part in a variety of activities to meet their individual needs and wishes. This included trampolining, aromatherapy, art sessions, walks, gym, bowling, computer time, visits to local restaurants, cinema, theatres and shops.

There were enough staff who had been appropriately recruited, to meet people’s individual needs. Staff knew people well and had a good understanding of the actions to take to mitigate 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.

The provider visited Canute Road regularly and had effective systems to monitor the management and quality of the home. 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 gain advice and support that would benefit the organisation and to provide support for other services for people with learning disabilities.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.