Archived: Stonecroft

Updated 9 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.

The inspection took place on 10 August 2016 and was announced. We spoke on the telephone to people’s relatives on 11 August 2016.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because we needed to ensure the registered manager or someone would be available on the day of the inspection to help respond to our questions and to provide us with evidence.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

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 checked the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we observed how staff interacted with people who used the service.

We spoke with two people who used the service, twelve relatives, two support workers and the registered manager.

We reviewed two people’s care records, two staff recruitment files, five medication records and other records relating to the management of the service including quality audit records.

Updated 9 September 2016

This inspection took place on 10 August 2016 and was announced. We spoke to people’s relatives on the telephone on 11 August 2016.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Stonecroft is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to three people who have a learning disability. It is part of the Thera Trust and provides rolling respite planned care between the hours of 3.30pm to 9.30am Monday to Friday. At the weekends care is provided throughout the day and night. There were two people using the service when we visited.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

Staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse and how to report them. People felt safe staying at the service. There were processes in place to manage identifiable risks. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to maintain their independence.

The provider carried out recruitment checks on new staff to make sure they were fit to work at the service. There were suitable staff employed with the appropriate mix of skills to support people with their needs.

Systems were in place to ensure people were supported to take their medicines safely. If people were able to, they were enabled to self-medicate. Staff were provided with regular training on the safe handling and administration of medicines; and their competencies were assessed on a six monthly basis.

Staff had been provided with induction and ongoing essential training to keep their skills up to date. They were supported with regular supervision and a yearly appraisal from the registered manager.

Staff ensured that people’s consent was gained before providing them with support. People were supported to make decisions about their care and support needs; and this was underpinned by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff had been provided with training and were knowledgeable of the guidance and processes to protect people.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and were able to make choices on what they wished to eat and drink. If needed, people were supported by staff to access healthcare facilities.

Positive and caring relationships had been developed between people and staff. There were processes in place to ensure that people’s views were acted on. Staff provided care and support to people in a meaningful way. Where possible people were encouraged to maintain their independence and staff ensured their privacy and dignity was promoted.

People had support plans that were regularly reviewed to ensure that the care provided was still relevant to their identified needs. A complaints procedure had been developed in an appropriate format to enable people to raise concerns if they needed to.

There was a positive, open and inclusive culture at the service. The registered manager was transparent and visible. This inspired staff to provide a quality service. Effective quality monitoring systems were in place. A variety of audits were carried out and used to drive continuous improvements.