Background to this inspection
Updated
12 October 2017
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 6 September 2017 and was unannounced. We completed the inspection on the 8 September 2017. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. Before our inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service. The provider had submitted a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a document wherein the provider is required to give some key information about the service, what the service does well, the challenges it faces and any improvements they plan to make. We also contacted four health and social care professionals for feedback.
During the inspection we reviewed three people’s care information, looked at three staff records, policies, procedures, auditing and feedback from people. We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative. We spoke with the provider, the nominated individual, the manager and two members of staff.
Updated
12 October 2017
The inspection took place on 6 September 2017 and was unannounced. We visited to complete the inspection on 8 September and this visit was announced. 7 Eworth Close offers accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities.
The service was last inspected on 6 and 12 February 2016. During that inspection we found safeguarding adult procedures were not always followed. We found people had not been involved in decisions about managing their diet. People's capacity to make specific decisions had not been assessed. Best interest decisions were not made and the least restrictive option used. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications had not made to the supervisory body. People had little autonomy and their care plans were not developed in a manner that respected their rights. They lacked detail and were not individualised.
We identified four breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activity) Regulation 2014. We asked the provider to send us a report saying what action they were going to take. The provider had told us that they would complete all the actions required to meet the regulations by the end of October 2016. During this inspection we found that the provider was meeting the regulations.
The service had a registered manager in place. 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. The day to day running of 7 Eworth Close was overseen by a manager based at the house.
People who used the service felt safe and relatives had confidence in the ability of staff to keep people safe. Staff had received training on safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities. Risks had been appropriately assessed and control measures in place to minimise the risks.
People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff had training and were checked to ensure they continued to be competent when administering medicines.
Recruitment processes were designed to ensure only suitable staff were selected to work with people. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet the needs of people who currently used the service.
New staff were supported with an induction when they commenced work in the service, including shadowing opportunities. Relevant training had been received such as managing medicines, food hygiene, health and safety and first aid.
Staff were supported through annual appraisals and meetings with staff took place as per the company policy. Staff told us that they felt supported by the manager and that communication was effective.
Staff were aware of their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They obtained people's consent before carrying out care tasks and followed legal requirements where people did not have the capacity to consent to their care.
People who used the service and relatives consistently told us staff were caring, patient and upheld people’s dignity. People confirmed staff encouraged them to maintain and improve their independence on a day-to-day basis.
People felt consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered. Care plans were personalised and centred on people's preferences, views and experiences as well as their care and support needs.
People who used the service knew how to complain. Complaints were investigated and responses given which were satisfactory to the complainant.
The manager and staff were described in positive terms by people who used the service and relatives.
The manager had worked hard to improve the service since the last inspection. This had resulted in an improved service for people. Auditing and quality assurance systems were improving to enable the provider to identify trends.