Archived: Lucklaw Residential Care Home

Lucklaw Residential Care Home (Lucklaw) is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to four adults with complex physical and learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were three people living at Lucklaw.

The home is a detached single level property in Great Sankey a suburb of Warrington town. It is set in it's own grounds with a large accessible garden at the rear and parking area to the front. The home has been appropriately adapted to accommodate specialised equipment and part of the main lounge has been furnished as a designated sensory area.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes.

The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people's needs. Sufficient staff were available at times that allowed people to be flexible with their daily routines.

Staff had received training that was applicable to people’s specific needs and was ongoing. Staff were supported by the registered manager and team manager through regular staff meetings, supervision and appraisals.

Support provided to people respected their privacy, dignity and promoted individual preferences and choices. It was clear from our observations that staff knew people's needs well. We observed kind, caring and friendly interactions taking place.

Hazards to people's safety had been identified and were appropriately managed. Risk assessments were in place to manage any hazards identified.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. The staff identified if people were unwell and supported them to contact health professionals.

People we spoke with made very positive comments about the service provided and the staff.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 4 October 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Lucklaw Residential Care Home was previously inspected in May 2014. One breach of legal requirements relating to staffing was found not to be met. We undertook a follow-up inspection in October 2014 and found that improvements had been made to address the breach.

Lucklaw Residential Care Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to four adults with complex physical and learning disabilities.

At the time of our inspection the service was accommodating four people.

The home is operated and managed by Warrington Community Living (the provider). Warrington Community Living is a registered charity and a non-profit making organisation.

Lucklaw Residential Care Home is a domestic four-bedroom bungalow in a residential area of Warrington. The premises have been adapted to accommodate the needs of people with a physical disability. There is level access throughout the bungalow with low gradient ramps to the front door and gardens.

The home has a private garden for people to relax in which is wheelchair accessible. Car parking facilities are available at the front of the property.

At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager at Lucklaw Residential Care Home. 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.

During our inspection of Lucklaw Residential Care Home we observed people living in the home to be relaxed, content and comfortable within their home environment and saw interactions between staff and people using the service to be caring, attentive, dignified and responsive to individual needs.

We saw evidence that people had undergone an assessment of their needs and that plans had been developed to ensure people received personalised care.

People had access to health care professionals and medication was ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely by trained staff. Varied, balanced and wholesome meals and refreshments were also provided to people to ensure their nutritional and hydration needs were maintained.

Staff recruitment systems were in place and information about prospective employees had been obtained to make sure staff did not pose a risk to people using the service.

Staff had access to induction, training and supervision to develop the necessary skills and competence for their roles.

The provider had developed policies relating to the MCA (Mental Capacity Act (2005) and DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards). The registered manager and staff understood their duty of care in relation to this protective legislation and rights of people living in the home.

Audits had been established to monitor the service and systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and to respond to complaints.

We did not receive any verbal feedback on this outcome area from the people living at Lucklaw as they have non-verbal communication needs.

We spoke with three relatives to also check care was appropriately delivered. Relatives spoken with were generally complimentary of the service. For example, comments included: 'I can sleep at night as I know the staff genuinely care' and 'The manager and carers are very good. They keep me updated on any issues and in my opinion the care provided is great.'

The representative of one person using the service expressed concern regarding the limited opportunities to access community based activities.

The people living at Lucklaw were observed to be relaxed in their home environment and in the company of the staff team. Staff were seen to carry out their duties in an attentive, respectful and caring manner during the visit.