Salthouse Road

Updated 24 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

199a -203a Salthouse 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information available to us about this service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider sent us a provider information return prior to the inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the nominated individual, the head of services, the registered manager and four care workers. We spoke with a visiting healthcare profession, one person and two relatives of people using the service. We looked at three people's care records in full. We also looked at two people's medication administration records and a selection of documentation about the management and running of the service. We looked at recruitment information for three members of staff, staff training records, policies and procedures and records of complaints. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We looked at training and staff supervision data.

Updated 24 October 2019

About the service: 199a -203a Salthouse Road is a care home providing personal care for up to eight people who have a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of our inspection seven people lived at 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 that 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 is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's experience of using this service:

We received positive views from relatives about the support provided to people. We observed people and staff had developed good and caring relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.

People were safeguarded from harm by staff who had received the relevant training. Risks to people's safety were assessed and clear guidance was in place to explain to staff how to mitigate any known risk.

People were supported by staff who had been recruited following safe recruitment procedures. People received their medicine on time and were protected from the risk of infection. Accident and incident forms were completed, and lessons were learnt when things went wrong. People's care needs were assessed, and staff received training that enabled them to meet people's needs.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and had access to fluids and snacks. Where required, staff monitored people’s weights and worked with healthcare professionals to make sure people received medical attention when required. Systems were in place to ensure information was shared when necessary. For example, when accessing health care.

The building was adapted to meet people's needs and people had access to outside space.

People were treated with kindness and supported to express their opinion wherever possible. The service was working with professionals who were providing specialist training in communication for the staff team to promote effective communication within the service. People's dignity was protected, and people were encouraged to maintain their independence.

People's care was personalised to their individual needs and people had access to activities they were known to enjoy. Staff used alternative means of communication such as photographs to assist people in the exchange of information. People were supported to maintain relationships and attend family events.

Relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. They felt able to raise concerns and were confident these would be addressed. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and senior management team. A complaints procedure was in place.

No one was in receipt of end of life care however, staff had previous experience of supporting people with end of life care and working with healthcare professional to enable people to remain at home at this time.

Staff attended regular team meetings and updated families of up and coming events via a newsletter.

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 11 April 2017)