Background to this inspection
Updated
2 December 2015
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 13 October 2015 and was unannounced.
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an 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. Our expert by experience’s area of expertise was the care of people with learning disabilities.
Before the inspection we reviewed the provider’s statement of purpose and the notifications we had been sent. A statement of purpose is a document which includes a standard required set of information about a service. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that providers must tell us about.
During the inspection we spoke with two people using the service on a one-to-one basis and seven people in a group. We also spoke with the manager, the provider, and four support workers.
We looked at records relating to all aspects of the service including care, staffing and quality assurance. We also looked in detail at four people’s care records.
Updated
2 December 2015
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 13 October 2015.
Satya Nivas provides accommodation, care and support for up to 10 people diagnosed with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. The people using the service are from the Asian communities. Asian languages are spoken in the home and Asian lifestyles catered for.
The home had a registered manager. This 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 said they felt safe in the home and were happy and relaxed in the company of the staff. Staff advocated for people and spoke up for them. There were enough staff on duty to support people in the home and also accompany those who wanted to go out into the community.
People told us they were satisfied with the food provided. Staff knew people’s likes and dislikes, for example whether they preferred mild or spicy food. Lunch was a social event in the home and brought people together for food and company. During the meal staff were in attendance, serving food and offering extra helpings. Records showed that the home offered a varied menu with plenty of choice.
People told us they felt like part of a family at Satya Nivas and trusted the staff who supported them. The staff had the skills they needed to provide effective care and knew what to do if a person became distressed or anxious. The provider and manager supported the staff and encouraged them to develop their competence though ongoing training and discussion.
Staff took action to help ensure people received effective healthcare. They referred people to healthcare professionals where necessary and accompanied them to appointments. They promoted healthy living in the home and helped to educate people about this.
The home had a caring and inclusive atmosphere. Many of the people using the service and the staff had been at the home for a long time and had built up close and trusting relationships. All the people we spoke with said they liked the staff and got on well with them. They also cared about and looked after each other.
Staff supported people with their religious beliefs and encouraged them to take part in cultural events. Staff were multilingual and communicated with people in their preferred language where possible. The encouraged people to take part in activities, go on trips out, and visit to local restaurants and clubs.
People received personalised care that met their needs. Their care plans included information about their preferences, for example what time they liked to get up, the nature of the support they needed, and whether they preferred a shower, bath or bucket bath. If people’s needs changed staff adjusted their care plans accordingly.
This home was suitable for people sharing the same or a similar cultural and religious background as the current people using the service and staff. The home was decorated with religious pictures telling stories from people’s faith backgrounds. The people using the service and staff were celebrating a religious festival on the day we visited.
People told us they were involved in how the home was run. They attended residents meetings where they discussed forthcoming religious festivals, and arrangements and food choices for forthcoming birthdays.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at the home and attended staff meetings where they were encouraged to share their views and make suggestions for improving the service. They told us they felt well supported by the manager and provider.
The provider carried out an annual survey to find out if the people using the service and their relatives were satisfied with the service provided. The results of this year’s survey were positive with respondents rating the service as ‘excellent’. The quality assurance system needed to be more formal with appropriate records kept.
There had been improvements to the home since we last inspected including the ongoing refurbishment and re-decoration of the premises. Some work regarding possible tripping hazards in the home was outstanding and the provider agreed to action this.