Background to this inspection
Updated
10 May 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 was a scheduled comprehensive inspection.
The inspection took place on the 12 and 19 April 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service including statutory notifications we had received about the service. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send us.
Some people living at the service were not verbally able, or choose not to, communicate with us so we used observation as our main tool to gain insight of their experiences. We spoke with two members of staff, manager and the area operations manager. We also spoke with one relative by telephone on the 19 April 2017.
During our inspection we reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and medicines records and records relating to four members of staff. We also looked at the arrangements in place for supporting staff, managing complaints and monitoring and assessing the quality of the service provided.
Updated
10 May 2017
296 Ashingdon Road provides accommodation and support for up to six people with learning difficulties. At the time of our inspection there were four people living at the service. The service does not provide nursing care.
At the last inspection in October 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
A manager was in post and was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with 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 service was safe. The registered provider’s recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. There were enough staff to help keep people safe, meet their needs and protect them from harm and abuse. Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed. There were safe systems in place for receiving, administering and disposing of medicines.
The service was effective. Staff received training to ensure they had the necessary skills and knowledge to care for and support people living at the service. The manager and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced diet and to access health and social care services when required.
The service was caring. Staff knew people well and were kind and sensitive to their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected and maintained. People were supported by staff to be as independent as possible.
The service was responsive. People were involved in the planning and review of their care and support needs. Care plans were person centred and were regularly reviewed. People were actively encouraged and supported by staff to pursue their interests and hobbies; activities were tailored around people’s likes, choices and abilities.
The service was well-led. Staff and relatives spoke positively about the manager who was committed to providing an excellent person centred service, ensuring people had a good quality of life. There were systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service provided and people living and working in the service had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided.