Archived: Slade House (Social Care - Oxon West and North DCA)

We visited 5 households, communicated with 13 people who used the service as well as conducting a short observational framework for inspection (SOFI) observation. We reviewed 11 people's care files and we spoke with 14 people's relatives. We also reviewed information given to us by the provider.

Three inspectors carried out this inspection and we considered our inspection findings to answer the questions we always ask.

This is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, their relatives and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at.

If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

We found the service to be safe. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

We found that people were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.

Is the service effective?

We found the service was effective. People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. We looked at the care file of one person who had mobility issues who could present behaviours that may challenge. We saw support plans in place to meet this persons needs along with risk assessments.

Before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes.

People we spoke with felt they were asked for their consent. One person told us, 'They ask me as it's my home'. People's relatives we spoke with told us, 'It is treated as people's homes, the respect shown is fantastic'.

Is the service caring?

We found the service was caring. People we spoke with felt cared for, one person told us, 'I love it here it's my home, the staff are lovely'. One relative told us, 'I see the care first hand, not just for my relative but for everyone in the house'. Throughout our SOFI observation we observed very caring and warm interactions between staff and people that used the service. We saw one person who was visibly excited by our visit moving freely around his home, supported by all staff.

Is the service responsive?

We found the service was responsive. We found when people's needs changed the service responded, for example we were told the health of one person we met had been declining. We saw that the GP had been involved along with other specialists.

We found the provider took account of complaints and comments. We examined the provider's compliments and complaints file. We saw that complaints were recorded and responded to in a timely and appropriate manner.

Is the service well-led?

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

During our inspection we looked at the quality assurance systems that were in place. The information reviewed demonstrated the service was monitored on a consistent basis to ensure people experienced safe and appropriate support, care and treatment.

People who used the service were asked for their views about their care and treatment. We looked at the results of the satisfaction survey carried out in January 2014. We saw that most people were happy with the care they had received.

We saw people being supported in a variety of home settings and noted the happy, warm and respectful interactions.

Staff told us how much they enjoyed their work and how they "Really enjoyed trying to make people's lives better. It is just so rewarding." They told us they were well-supported by the Registered Manager, and were enabled to attend training relevant to the needs of the service.

We read support plans and noted there was sufficient appropriate information to guide practice.