Ordinary Life Project Association - 5 St Margaret's Gardens

Updated 15 March 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 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.

This was a comprehensive inspection. The inspection took place on 12 February 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed other information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. We also looked at information in the Provider Information Return (PIR). 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.

During the inspection we spoke with two people, two members of staff and the registered manager. We reviewed two people's care and support records and two staff files. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service such as incident and accident records, meeting minutes, recruitment and training records, policies, audits and complaints.

Updated 15 March 2018

5 St Margaret’s Gardens is one of a number of care homes owned and managed by The Ordinary Life Project Association (OLPA). The care home provides accommodation for up to four people with a learning disability. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of our inspection there were three people living in the home.

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.

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.

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.

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At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Risk assessments were in place. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew what to do if they suspected abuse and how to report any concerns. Medicines were managed safely.

A staff training plan was in place. Staff had regular supervisions and appraisals. People had enough to eat and drink and external advice and guidance was sought when needed. Mental capacity assessments had been carried out and best interest decisions made when people lacked capacity.

People living at the service said the staff were kind. There was a relaxed and calm atmosphere. Staff spoke positively about their roles.

Care plans were person centred and had been regularly reviewed. People had been involved in the reviews. A complaints procedure was available. No complaints had been received.

There were quality assurance processes in place. Action plans were in place to ensure improvements when issues were noted.

The registered manager was a visible presence. Staff and people living at the service spoke highly of the registered manager.