Background to this inspection
Updated
4 June 2019
The inspection:
'We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.'
Notice of inspection:
This inspection took place on 1st May 2019 and was unannounced.
Inspection team:
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type:
Living Ambitions Limited - 330a Guildford Road 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.
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.
What we did:
Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. 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. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at our inspection
As part of our inspection we spoke with people who lived at the service and observed the care and support provided to people. We also spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and two staff members. Following the inspection, we spoke with two relatives who are in frequent contact with the service. We reviewed a range of documents about people's care and how the home was managed. We looked at two care plans, two staff files, medication administration records, risk assessments, complaints records, policies and procedures and internal audits that had been completed.
Updated
4 June 2019
About the service:
Living Ambitions provides residential care for up to five people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. The accommodation is a detached house arranged over two floors. The service is registered to provide accommodation for those who require personal care. At the time of our inspection, there were five people living at Living Ambitions.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
People’s experience of using this service:
People and their relatives told us they felt safe living at Living Ambitions. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and measures implemented to keep them safe. A positive approach to risk taking was followed to ensure people’s independence was maintained. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and had developed open and trusting relationships with people.
Staff had received training and support from healthcare professionals with regards to people’s individual health needs. This had enabled staff to provide people with individualised support in these areas.
People were offered choices in their food and how they spent their time. Relatives told us that staff were caring and treated them with respect. People were supported to maintain relationships. Staff had worked at the service for many years and positive relationships had developed between people. There was a warm and homely atmosphere and people were clearly comfortable living at Living Ambitions. People’s dignity and privacy was respected, with personal care and conversations taking place behind closed doors.
People received a personalised service and were involved in developing their care plans. Staff knew people’s life histories, preferences and routines. Activities were based around people’s choices and people were supported to take part in the running of their home. There was a positive culture within the service where people, staff and relatives felt listened to. The registered manager felt supported by the provider and this flowed through the service.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned comprehensive inspection to confirm the service remained Good.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor all intelligence received about the service to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.