All inspections: Integrated Care Services Limited - 2a Tudor Gardens

This inspection took place on 15 September 2016 and was announced. We last inspected this service in August 2014 and found that they were meeting all legal requirements and were overall rated as ‘Good’.

2a Tudor Gardens is a residential care home that provides accommodation and support for up to four people with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were two people living at the home.

The home had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 registered manager was approachable and supportive of staff and people who lived at the service.

The provider had effective systems to protect people from avoidable harm. Appropriate risk assessments had been carried out and risk management plans put in place for each person who lived at the home, and for the environment to ensure people's safety.

There was a sufficient number of staff deployed who were trained and knew how to meet people's care needs.

People's medicines were administered safely and they were supported to access healthcare services to maintain their health and well-being.

People had enough to eat and drink. They were provided with a choice of food, snacks and drinks as appropriate. They were supported to access healthcare services when required.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and sought people's consent before providing care and support. They were trained in areas that were relevant to the needs of the people, who lived at the home.

They were knowledgeable about people's care needs and they provided appropriate support to people.

People were treated with dignity and respect and were encouraged to maintain their independence, interests and hobbies. They were supported to express their views and be actively involved in making decision about their care. Staff were respectful and friendly in their interactions with people.

People's needs had been identified before they moved to the home, and changes to people's needs were managed appropriately. People had personalised care plans that gave guidance to staff on meeting people's needs. They were supported by the staff team to take part in activities that were of interest to them.

The provider had an effective system in place for handling complaints. They encouraged feedback from people and acted on this to improve the quality of the service. They also had an effective quality monitoring process in place to ensure they were meeting the required standards of care.

We carried out this inspection on 20 October 2014. This inspection was unannounced.

The previous inspection of the service took place on 11 April 2013 when it was found to meet all the required standards.

Integrated Care Services Limited (ICSL) - 2a Tudor Gardens provides personal care and support to up to four people with learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were two people living at the service. Care is provided on two floors in singly occupied rooms, some of which are spacious. Each person’s room is provided with all necessary aids and adaptations to suit their individual requirements. There are well appointed communal areas for dining and relaxation. There is also a garden area to the front and a small courtyard to the rear of the home.

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.

People told us they felt safe in the home and we saw there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm.

The Registered Manager had been trained to understand when applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations should be made, and in how to submit one. We found the location to be meeting the requirements of the DoLS.

We found people were cared for, or supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work.

Medicines were managed safely and staff received training in the safe administration of medicines.

Suitable arrangements were in place and people were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met.

People’s physical health was monitored as required. This included the monitoring of people’s health conditions and symptoms so appropriate referrals to health professionals could be made.

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. Care and support was tailored to meet people’s individual needs and staff knew people well. The support plans included risk assessments. Staff had good relationships with the people living at the home and the atmosphere was happy and relaxed.

We observed interactions between staff and people living in the home and staff were kind and respectful to people when they were supporting them. Staff were aware of the values of the service and knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity. People were supported to attend meetings where they could express their views about the home.

A wide range of activities were provided both in-house and in the community. We saw people were involved and consulted about all aspects of the service including what improvements they would like to see and suggestions for activities. Staff told us people were encouraged to maintain contact with friends and family.

The manager investigated and responded to people’s complaints, according to the provider’s complaints procedure. People we spoke with did not raise any complaints or concerns about living at the home.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. We saw copies of reports produced by the registered manager which included action planning. Staff were supported to challenge when they felt there could be improvements and there was an open and honest culture in the home.

We spoke with two people who use the service, and observed their care. We found that they received good care and their needs were met. One person told us "they look after me well here, see me right". Another person said "I'm right happy here. I like it here". We observed good interactions between staff and the people using the service, where the staff were respectful of people's needs and wishes.

There was evidence that people's needs had been carefully assessed, discussed with them, their representatives and the professionals involved in their care, and that care plans and risk assessments were reviewed regularly. We saw that the provider encouraged staff to advocate on behalf of people using the service, with better health outcomes as a result. One person told us "they take me to all my appointments".

We found that people were encouraged to make choices about their day-to-day lives, including their activities and meals, and that the flexible staffing in the service allowed for this. One person said 'staff take me out whenever I want to go. Go shopping, have a cup of tea in the caf'. Another person told us 'I like to go to the cricket. The staff help me".

Staff were caring and knowledgeable about each person using the service. We saw evidence that staff were appropriately qualified and trained, and there was enough staff to cover foreseeable emergencies.

On the day of the inspection there were three people using the service living in the home; one person was on holiday so we spoke with two people.

The home was warm, clean and had a calm atmosphere. People told us they were happy living in the home, and both had lived there for several years. They informed us they liked their bedrooms and had the opportunity to participate in activities of their choice. We saw people made a number of choices. These included making decisions about what they wanted to eat and what they wanted to do. Staff were observed to involve people using the service in decisions about their care support.

People who use the service told us that staff were kind and respected their privacy. We saw staff knocked on bedroom doors and they waited for the person using the service to respond prior to entering the bedroom. We saw staff supported people in a friendly and competent way. People confirmed that staff assisted them when they needed support with their care and told us that staff were kind.

People using the service, records and staff told us that people's health care and welfare needs were being met by the home. We noted that people had good access to outside health care professionals such as doctors, physiotherapists, opticians, dentists and chiropodists. A person using the service told us that their social worker had recently visited them.

People told us that they felt safe living in the home and knew who to talk to if they had a worry or concern.

There were systems in place to obtain the views of people using the service about the standard of care provided by the home.

Comments from people using the service included; 'I have what I want to eat, I can choose', 'The staff are kind, they know what I want', 'I like my care home', 'I go out', 'I go to college', 'I like my room, I have my own things' and 'Staff are ok, they don't rush me', 'I feel safe'.

Archived: Integrated Care Services Limited - 2a Tudor Gardens

All Inspections

15 September 2016

During a routine inspection

20 October 2014

During a routine inspection

11 April 2013

During a routine inspection

24 May 2012

During a routine inspection