Simmins Crescent/Whitteney Drive

Updated 16 August 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Simmins Crescent/Whitney Drive 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We had limited conversations with two people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four care staff, three deputy managers and the registered manager. We spent time observing the care people received in the three bungalows, this helped us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We spoke with one staff member.

Updated 16 August 2019

Simmins Crescent/Whitteney Drive is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 14 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 15 people who have a learning disability and sensory impairment. The care home accommodates 15 people across three bungalows, each of which has separate adapted facilities.

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 and what we found

People were safe when they used services at Simmins Crescent/Whitney Drive. Staff knew how to keep people safe from avoidable harm and abuse. Risks associated with people’s care had been assessed and regularly reviewed to reflect the support people needed to be safe. People’s medicines were managed safely.

Staff had the training and experience they required to provide support that met people’s needs. They supported people to meet their nutritional needs and access health care professionals when required.

Staff were kind and compassionate. They treated people with dignity and respect. They promoted people’s right to privacy and enabled them to be involved in decisions about their care.

People’s care was tailored to their individual needs and their care plans reflected their preferences, choices and needs. People had access to a range of activities and were supported to follow their interests.

There was strong leadership at the service. Staff across all tiers of the service had the support they required to fulfil their role. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of care people received and used this to improve the standard of care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured people who used the service can live as full a life as possible and achieved the best possible outcomes that included control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people 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 to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 09 January 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.