Archived: Sycamore Drive

Updated 25 January 2019

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 19 and 21 November 2018 and was announced. This meant the provider knew we were coming to inspect. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection as the service is a small care home and people living there are often out and about during the day. We therefore needed to be sure that people would be at home.

The inspection team was made up of one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally required to let us know about.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We contacted the local authority commissioning team, CCG and the safeguarding adult’s team. We contacted the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually 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 relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, two care staff and one visiting healthcare professional. We did not speak with people directly.

During our visit we observed care and support provided by staff within the home. We looked at personal care and support plans for two people. We reviewed two staff files including recruitment, supervision, appraisal and training. We also looked at various records relating to the management of the service. We also spent time looking around the building both inside and outside and we spent time in communal areas .

Updated 25 January 2019

Sycamore Drive is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Sycamore Drive provides care for up to four people with learning or physical disabilities and any associated health needs. The service does not provide nursing care.

Sycamore Drive has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning and physical disabilities using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

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.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff treated people with respect and great kindness. Relatives and visiting healthcare professionals confirmed this. One relative we spoke with told us, “[Person] is as happy as Larry living here!”

Relatives told us that they thought their loved ones were safe living at Sycamore Drive. Safeguarding issues were logged and analysed with appropriate action taken. Staff were able to talk confidently regarding their understanding of safeguarding and were able to tell us the action they would take regarding any potential safeguarding issues.

The provider had a robust recruitment process which included pre-employment checks. Staff who were new to the service had a period of induction which included shadowing existing staff.

Records showed the provider carried out various health and safety checks. As such the premises were well-maintained and safe. Robust medicines processes were in place. People received their medicines from trained staff.

Pre-assessments of people’s physical and care needs were carried out prior to people coming to live at the service. This was to ensure that the service could meet the needs of that person. Staff received regular training which supported them to have the required skills and knowledge to provide appropriate care and support to people.

People were supported and encouraged to eat a healthy and balanced diet. People were involved in creating menus, going to local shops with staff to buy the ingredients and preparing meals with support from staff.

People had access to a variety of healthcare professionals, including dentists, GPs and consultants. Relatives confirmed their family members attended various healthcare appointments.

People had access to a wide range of activities within the local and extended community. These activities included involvement with a local walking club, craft classes at a local college and Zumba classes in a nearby town.

Care plans were very focussed and person-centred. They included individual personalised goals for people and these goals were reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Staff spoke highly of the registered manager and told us they felt supported in their role. They told us the registered manager was very open and approachable. One member of staff we spoke with told us “Yes, if ever I have a problem, I go to [registered manager] and they helped me.”