4 and 5 March 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on the 4 and 5 March 2015 and was unannounced. We previously inspected the service on the 17 December 2013. At that time the service was meeting the regulations inspected.
4 Ashley Drive is a care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning and or physical disabilities.
At the time of our inspection there were five people living in the home. There was a registered manager in post. 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.
Systems were in place to safeguard people who lacked capacity to make decisions on their care. It is recommended the provider ensures decisions made by other professionals are also recorded. Relatives told us they felt their relative was safe. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and protocols were provided on the action to take if such incidences occurred.
Staff were suitably recruited. Permanent staff were supported to meet people’s needs through induction, training and supervision. Agency staff were not always suitably trained, inducted and aware of people’s needs and risks to enable them to safely meet people’s needs. The home had a number of staff vacancies and used agency staff on a regular basis to cover shifts. Relatives and staff felt this resulted in inconsistent care for people. The provider was aware of this and was trying to address it. Staff worked well as a team. They were motivated and enthusiastic in developing the service to provide the best care to people.
Medicines were administered to people safely. Care plans recorded the support people needed. These were detailed and kept under review which ensured staff provided consistent care for people. People had a weekly programme of day centre activities and had access to leisure activities and community involvement. Records were maintained of what people ate and drank but these were not consistently completed and guidance was not in place to indicate the required fluid intake for people.
Relatives told us they were happy with the care provided and said their relatives was always nicely dressed, presented and well groomed. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and were responsive to them. We saw staff were kind, gentle, respectful, caring and engaged positively with people. They offered people person centred care and encouraged and enabled them to be involved in all aspects of their care.
Risks to people, staff and visitors were identified, addressed and managed which promoted safe care and a safe working environment. The home was clean, well maintained and systems were in place to prevent the risks of cross infection. Accident and incidents were appropriately managed which ensured people’s safety.
The provider had systems in place to satisfy themselves that the service was being effectively managed and monitored. Staff and relatives were happy with the way the home was run. They told us the registered manager was approachable and they supported staff well to provide safe care to people.
We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010, which from the 1 April 2015 is the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.