Expect Limited - 13 Elm Road

Updated 24 February 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 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 was a comprehensive inspection.

This inspection took place on 13 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day and the registered manager was not based at the location. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

We reviewed the information we held about the service before we carried out the visit. We collated information we had about the home. Prior to the inspection the provider had submitted a Provider Information Return (PIR) to us. The PIR is a document the provider is required to submit to us which provides key information about the service, and tells us what the provider considers the service does well and details any improvements they intend to make.

We contacted the local authority commissioning team for feedback about the service.

During the inspection we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who lived at 13 Elm Road. This was because the people who lived there communicated in different ways and we were not able to directly ask them their views about their experiences. We spent a short time observing the support provided to help us understand people's experiences of the service. Our observations showed people appeared relaxed and at ease with the staff.

We spoke with three staff, including the registered manager.

We looked at the care records for three people, as well as medication records, three staff recruitment files and other records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service. These included safety audits and quality audits. We undertook general observations and looked round the home.

Updated 24 February 2018

13 Elm Road is a residential care home for up to 3 people with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs. The home is a large terraced house in a residential area, with community facilities including shops, cafes and good access to local transport .

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 on-going 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.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Risk assessments were in place specific to people's individual needs.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff had been appropriately recruited to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. There was sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs. The staff team provided consistent support to people, as most had worked in the home for a few years and they provided cover for each other for holidays and sick leave.

The home was well maintained and in good decorative order. Measures were in place to ensure the environment was safe and suitable for the people who lived there. Repairs to the building were reported to the landlord and attended to in a timely way.

People's needs were assessed and care plans were completed to demonstrate the support required. People's health care needs were addressed. People saw their local health care professional when they needed to.

Staff received a programme of mandatory and optional training relevant to the people they supported. Regular supervision and annual appraisals took place. Staff meetings were held to keep staff informed and support them in their role.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People made decisions and choices in relation to their care, support received and daily activities.

Staff knew the people in the home well, particularly their needs and choices and how they preferred to be supported. This information was well documented to assist new staff.

Staff knew people's dietary needs and preferences. They supported people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.

Staff showed kindness towards the people in the home. People were supported to maintain their independence with activities of daily living. People went out when they chose to and were supported by staff to attend health appointments.

Care plans were written for the individual and informed staff of their preferences and wishes. These documents were regularly updated to reflect people's change in need or preference.

People enjoyed a range of activities, including their hobbies. Staff made sure they had what they needed to complete the activity, such as flowers, paper, crayons and books.

A complaints policy was in place and displayed in the home. No complaints had been received since the last inspection in 2015.

There was a person-centred and open culture in the home. Staff reported that registered manager was supportive and made themselves available to support staff when they needed it. Staff worked as a team and supported each other. Absence and annual leave was covered by the staff team. This ensured there was a consistent staff team that people in the home knew and staff were familiar with their support needs.

Quality assurance and governance systems were in place to help the registered manager and provider to monitor standards and drive forward improvements.

The registered manager and provider met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They had submitted notifications relating to incidents and the rating from the last inspection was clearly displayed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.