Archived: Boldmere Drive

Updated 2 September 2016

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 took place on 29 June 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was conducted by one inspector and an expert-by-experience whose area of expertise related to learning disabilities and behaviours that may be considered challenging. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

When we were planning the inspection we looked at the information we already held about the provider. Providers are required to notify the Care Quality Commission about specific events and incidents that occur, including serious injuries to people receiving care and any safeguarding matters. Before the inspection, the provider completed 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. We used this information to help us to focus our inspection.

During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service and four relatives. We spoke with two members of staff, the registered manager and one healthcare professional. We carried out observations of how people were supported throughout the day. We also looked at three people’s care records, one staff file and at records maintained by the home about risk management, medicines, staffing, training and the quality of the service.

Updated 2 September 2016

This inspection took place on 29 June 2016 and was unannounced. The service is a care home that provides personal care and accommodation for up to four people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. There were four people using the service at the time of our inspection. There was a registered manager in place. 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 and relatives told us that people were safe at the home. Staff were able to identify and respond to changes in people’s behaviours to keep them safe and well. Risks to people were managed effectively and staff had taken steps to minimise these. Staff had an active role in maintaining the health and safety of the home and one person who lived at the home supported them with this.

People were supported by a consistent staff group and we saw that there were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. People were protected by robust recruitment processes. People received their medicines safely and staff had access to thorough guidance about supporting people to take their medicines.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to support people effectively and told us they felt supported in their roles. Staff received regular supervision and had access to further training and support from the registered provider if they needed this. We saw that the registered manager and staff had a clear understanding of people’s needs and relatives confirmed this. Where people were unable to express themselves verbally, staff showed awareness of how they communicated their needs. People sometimes displayed behaviours that may have challenged and staff provided examples of how they supported people to become calm.

Staff we spoke with did not have a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and how this was applied at the home, however, people were supported to make decisions about their care and day-to-day lives. People enjoyed mealtimes and were supported to have a healthy diet. People chose and prepared meals and we saw that their dietary preferences and requirements were met. People were supported to access healthcare support as required and staff took an active role in supporting people to stay well.

People and staff enjoyed caring and positive interactions with one another. We saw that people were treated as individuals and they visibly looked at home at the service. People were supported to maintain relationships with people that were important to them. Staff cared about people’s welfare and treated them with respect and people were regularly encouraged and supported to maintain their independence.

People received care that was responsive to their needs and relatives described positive outcomes for people. People, and their relatives where appropriate, were regularly involved in care planning reviews and discussions. Action had been taken in response to people’s changing needs to ensure that they remained safe and well and regular reviews checked that people were happy with their care. People were supported to follow their interests and enjoyed regular individualised activities and social events at the home.

Systems were in place to seek people’s feedback and relatives’ feedback and staff views showed that people enjoyed a person-centred and inclusive culture at the home. The registered manager had positive relationships with people and understood their needs well, and this was reflected in staff practice at the home.

Staff described an open culture where they could offer challenge and solutions to meet people’s needs. The registered manager felt supported by the registered provider and a quality assurance process encouraged the home to continue good practice.