Background to this inspection
Updated
13 April 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team: One inspector carried out this inspection with support from a British sign language interpreter.
Service and service type: The service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection: We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and we needed to be sure that people would be in.
What we did:
Before inspection: We reviewed information we had received about the service from the provider since the last inspection, such as serious injuries. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us when requested to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During and after the inspection: We spoke with the three people who used the service during our visit. After the visit we spoke with two relatives over the telephone to ask about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and four members of staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at multiple records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.
Updated
13 April 2019
About the service: The service is a care home for up to four people some of whom have a sensory impairment and/or a learning disability and/or autism. Three people lived in the service when we inspected. This size of service meets the best practice model of support for people with a learning disability and/or autism and was designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance.
People’s experience of using this service: People told us they were happy and felt staff had an excellent understanding of their needs and preferences. Staff listened to what they wanted and acted quickly to support them to achieve their goals and aspirations. Staff were innovative and looked to offer people solutions to aid their independence and develop their skills. Use of technology had supported people to maintain their safety and to be involved in their care.
People were very well supported with their communication needs. All staff could communicate through British Sign Language (BSL) or were working towards this. People told us they felt they were always able to communicate their needs to staff.
Excellent support was provided to people when they felt anxious or distressed. Staff used up to date best practice to intervene in the least restrictive and positive way. This approach had fostered very trusting relationships between staff and the people they supported. People’s anxiety had reduced and their participation in a meaningful life had increased because of this.
People had good community networks which were personal to them. This included supporting people to use technology to connect with family and friends. People had been supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with friends and family.
Staff were well trained and skilled. They worked with people to overcome challenges and promote their independence in every area of their life. The emphasis of support was towards enabling people. Staff encouraged positive risk taking so people could experience new things and develop. This had led to people feeling fulfilled and living an active life.
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 practice.
The registered manager and staff team worked together in a positive way to support people to achieve their own goals and to be safe. Checks of safety and quality were made to ensure people were protected. Work to continuously improve was noted and the registered manager was keen to make changes that would impact positively on people’s lives.
The values of the organisation of offering choice, inclusion and respect were embedded. This supported people to receive the positive service described. The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
For more details please see the full report on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: Good (published 28 September 2016)
Why we inspected: This inspection was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.