Errol House

Errol House is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service.

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 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 and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

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.

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

People were safely supported care and staff had a good understanding of people’s individual risks, although care records sometimes lacked detail. Recruitment procedures were followed and staffing was organised well so each person received high levels of support. There were safe systems for managing people’s medicines, although some aspects of recording needed to be clearer.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People gave their consent to care in line with current legislation. The service respected people’s human rights. Staff understood people’s individual communication needs and respected their wishes and preferences.

Staff were supported through training and supervision. There was good teamwork and a clear management structure to support the team. Communication between staff and managers was continuous and supportive of people’s individual needs. People’s dietary needs and choices were well met.

Errol House provided a friendly, welcoming homely environment; staff respected people’s home and people were happy. People were supported by kind, patient and caring staff who understood their individual needs. People were treated with respect and their independence was actively promoted.

Activities were based around people’s individual interests and wishes. People’s care records contained information about their needs, and improvements to these were being considered. The complaints process was in place and the provider was considering ways in which compliments could also be recorded.

Changes had been made to the management in the home. Staff were confident in how the service was run and felt the new registered manager was making positive changes. Systems and processes used to monitor the quality of the provision were in place.

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 August 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

At the last inspection in January 2015 the service was rated Good.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Errol House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’

At this unannounced inspection on the 20 June 2017 we found the service remained Good. The service met all relevant fundamental standards.

The service had 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.

People were protected from the risk of harm or abuse because staff employed were trained in safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities. The registered provider had policies and systems in place to manage safeguarding incidents and maintained records of any suspected or actual safeguarding concerns.

Risks were managed and reduced so that people avoided injury or harm. The premises were safely maintained and there was documentary evidence to show this. Staffing numbers were sufficient to meet people's needs and recruitment systems were followed to ensure staff were suitable to support people.

Systems were in place to make sure people received their medications safely, which included key staff receiving medication training and regular audits of the system.

Robust recruitment procedures ensured the right staff were employed to meet people’s needs safely. At the time of the inspection there was sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People received adequate nutrition and hydration to maintain their health and wellbeing. The premises were suitably designed and furnished for providing care and support to people with a learning disability. This included accessible gardens and a patio area.

People were treated with respect. People and their relatives told us staff were kind and very caring. Staff demonstrated a good awareness of how to respect people’s preferences and they ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained. We saw staff took account of people’s individual needs and preferences while supporting them.

People could take part in activities of their own choice and there were also organised group activities. People received one to one support for activities in the community and had an organised holiday each year.

The service was well-led and people had the benefit of a culture and management style that were inclusive and caring. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them.

A system was in place for checking the quality of the service using audits, satisfaction surveys and meetings. People made their views known through direct discussion with the registered manager and staff or via the complaint and quality monitoring systems. People's privacy and confidentiality were maintained as records were held securely on the premises.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People's needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. The care plans contained a good level of information setting out exactly how each person should be supported to ensure their needs were met. One person told us, 'It is alright. I like coming to stay, I enjoy it.'

Medicines were given to people appropriately. We observed one person being given their medication and this was done in a considerate and encouraging way.

We found people were supported by sufficient numbers of qualified, skilled and experienced staff which met people's needs. The rotas we looked at showed the staffing levels agreed within the home were being complied with, and this included the skill mix of staff. They confirmed there were sufficient staff, of all designations, on shift at all times.

There were quality monitoring programmes in place, which included people giving feedback about their care, support and treatment. This provided a good overview of the quality of the service's provided.