Archived: St Brides

Updated 9 June 2017

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 inspection visit took place on the 10 May 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection visit was carried out by one inspector. We checked the information we held about the service and the provider. This included notifications the provider had sent to us about significant events at the service. We used this to formulate our inspection plan.

On this occasion we did not ask the provider to send us a 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. However we offered the provider the opportunity to share information they felt relevant with us.

We were unable to speak with people who used the service so we spent time observing care and support in the communal area. We observed how staff interacted with people who used the service. We spoke with two relatives, three members of care staff and the registered manager. We did this to gain people's views about the care and to check that standards of care were being met.

We looked at the care records for two people. We checked that the care they received matched the information in their records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including quality checks and staff files.

Updated 9 June 2017

St Brides Close provides accommodation for eight people who have a learning disability, in two separate bungalows. At the time of our inspection there were eight people living in the home. At the last inspection, in July 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.

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.

People continued to be supported in a safe way and where risks to people were identified they were managed effectively. Staff knew what abuse was and how to recognise and report it. Medicines were managed safely and people had their medicines at the prescribed times. There were enough staff available to offer individual support to people and recruitment process ensured they were suitable to work within the home. Staff had received training to help them support people.

When needed capacity assessments had been completed and decisions made in people’s best interests. When people were being unlawfully restricted this had been considered and applications made for the legal approval.

People were treated in a kind and caring way. Their privacy and dignity was promoted by staff and they were encouraged to be independent. They were able to make choices around their day and were offered the opportunity to participate in activities they enjoyed. People were supported to access health care professionals and health care services when needed. They were offered a choice of foods they enjoyed.

Quality monitoring checks and feedback from people who used the service were obtained to bring about improvements in the service. Staff felt listened to and were provided with the opportunity to raise concerns. There was a complaints procedure in place and this was followed by the provider. The registered manager understood the requirements of registration with us and notified us about significant events that occurred in the home.