Archived: Gaynor Forster House

Gaynor Forster House is part of The Outlook Foundation, a charity which provides accommodation, and/or personal care and training for young adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities. The Outlook Foundation has three services in Brighton and Hove. This is a supported living scheme where people live in their own home under a tenancy agreement. Each person has their own flat with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen/lounge area. People receive personal care or social support in order to promote their independence. The support provided is tailored to meet people’s individual needs and enables the person to be as autonomous and independent as possible. The service is situated in a residential area with easy access to local amenities, transport links and the city centre. Gaynor Forster House has up to five people living in the service and is registered to provide personal care. At the time of the inspection one person was receiving support with personal care.

The service had a registered manager, who was present throughout the inspection, they have been in their current post for many years and knew the service well. 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's individual care and support needs were assessed before they moved into the service. Care and support provided was personalised and based on the identified needs of the individual. People were supported to develop their life skills and increase their independence. People’s care and support plans and risk assessments were detailed and reviewed regularly. People told us they had felt involved and listened to. A relative told us, “The Outlook Foundation provides excellent care.”

Consent was sought from people with regard to the care and support that was delivered. Staff had undertaken training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). They knew how to involve appropriate people in the decision making process if someone lacked capacity to make a decision.

People were supported to eat a healthy and nutritious diet. They had access to health care professionals, and had been supported to have an annual healthcare check. All appointments with, or visits by, health care professionals were recorded in people’s care and support plan.

People told us they felt safe. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to keep people safe and meet their care and support needs. The number of staff on duty enabled people, if they chose, to be supported to access educational courses, participate in voluntary work and in social activities. Staff told us they were supported to develop their skills and knowledge by receiving training which helped them to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively. Training records were kept up-to-date, plans were in place to promote good practice and develop the knowledge and skills of staff.

Staff told us it was a small staff team who worked well together, and communication throughout the service was good. Comprehensive handovers were held at the beginning of each day and they also attended regular staff meetings. They confirmed that they felt valued and supported.

People and their representatives were asked to complete an annual satisfaction questionnaire. We could see the actions which had been completed following the comments received. People had the opportunity to attend regular ‘tenants meetings’. The registered manager told us a range of internal audits were carried out to review the quality of the care and support provided, and records confirmed this. The registered manager also told us that they operated an 'open door policy' so people living in the service, staff and visitors could discuss any issues they may have.

People told us they were happy with the care and support they received. One person who uses the service told us "I love it here and the staff are really good," another person told us "The staff are very kind. They listen to me and I get on well with them." One relative we spoke with told us "I'm more than happy. Staff are very good and she's very safe there", another relative told us "I couldn't imagine anywhere better. It's absolutely brilliant."

We spoke with staff who demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of people who use the service. We saw that staff were supported with regular supervision and annual appraisals as well as ongoing training to help them meet people's needs.

We were told that people went on holiday every year as a group and that there was an emphasis on ensuring their social needs were met with assistance to participate in the local community and take part in activities as they wished. Supporting people to develop their life skills was seen to be a priority and reflected in their care plans.

Before people received any care or treatment they had been asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. It was clear from discussions with the manager and a care worker, they had a good understanding of the needs of the people they supported.

People's needs had been assessed and care and treatment had been planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan.

One person told us 'They (the care workers) are very helpful and understanding'.

Another person told us 'They (the care workers) are kind. They support me most days and I can always ring them if I have a problem'.

People told us that the support they had received had met their needs and that they had been able to choose for themselves how and when their care was delivered.

Appropriate arrangements in relation to obtaining medicine had been in place. People who took prescribed medicines told us that care workers had supported them on occasions.

People had been supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. Staff records and other records relevant to the management of the services were accurate and fit for purpose.