Background to this inspection
Updated
6 March 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
59 Hatherley Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The registered manager was not available during the inspection, however two staff members supported us with the inspection.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided and observed how staff interacted with the other people. We spoke with two members of staff during the inspection.
We reviewed a range of records which included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at files and documents relating to staff development and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality monitoring systems were also reviewed and toured the building.
After the inspection
We spoke to one relative and one health care professional and continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
6 March 2020
About the service
59 Hatherley Road is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to three people with learning disabilities. The service can support up to three people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service didn’t always consistently apply 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 did not fully reflect the principles and values of Registering the Right Support for the following reasons. Effective systems were not in place to people’s risks and changes in their needs were assessed, monitored and comprehensively recorded. Protocols for people’s medicines were not always in place to guide staff.
We have made a recommendation about the use of evidence-based screening tools
Systems used to monitor the service had not always been effective in identifying shortfalls in people’s care and medicine records when people’s care needs had changed. People’s care records had not always been updated to reflect their changing needs. This meant staff did not always have the guidance they may need to support people.
We met and spoke to people during our inspection. Not everyone could express their views about the service however we observed staff interactions with people throughout the inspection. Staff explained how they spent their day and known preferences.
We observed staff being caring and respectful towards people and were committed to providing good outcomes for people. Relatives told us they felt the staff were kind and caring and felt their loved ones were safe with the staff supporting them. People's privacy and independence were promoted.
Staff were suitably recruited. Staffing levels were flexible to enable people to access the community with support. People were supported by staff who had been trained and received regular supervision.
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. People had access to a range of activities in the community with the support of staff.
Staff knew people well and were responsive to people’s needs. They adapted their approach to support people’s communication. People received their prescribed medicines safely and were supported to maintain a clean home.
Systems were in place to deal with concerns and complaints and accidents and incidents. Staff and a relative were positive about the management of the service. Staff told us senior staff and the registered manager were very approachable and always available for advice and support.
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 14 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Enforcement
We have identified one breach in relation to quality assurances systems used to monitor the service and drive improvement.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.