Archived: Albany House - Redruth

Updated 28 September 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 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 30 August 2017 and was announced the day before to make sure people were available due to the way the service operated. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector. Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and other information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law.

We spoke with the registered provider and registered manager. We spoke with all four of the people living at Albany House. We received feedback from a local authority commissioner. We looked at care records of two people living at Albany House as well as medicine records and records relating to the management of the service. In addition we checked the building to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live. This involved a walk around the premises.

Updated 28 September 2017

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Albany House on 30 August 2017. This was an announced inspection. We told the provider one day before our inspection visit that we would be coming. This was because we wanted to make sure there would be people to speak with and we would have access to records. At the previous inspection the service was rated good. At this inspection the rating remained good.

Albany House provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people who have a learning disability. During this inspection four people were living at the service.

The service is situated in a residential area close to the centre of Redruth. All the people living at Albany House were mobile and had a good level of independence which meant there was no need for the use of mobile aids and adaptations. Some people using the service were supported to use community facilities.

Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and the registered manager understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Appropriate arrangements were in place for the administration and storage of medicines.

Risk assessments were in place to minimise the potential risk of harm to people who lived at the service. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care and support people required.

People told us they felt safe living at Albany house. Comments included, “I do feel safe here. I like living here. I have everything I need” and “(Registered manager) is very kind and helps me with everything.”

People had their healthcare needs met and there were examples of how people's health needs had been effectively responded to. People were treated with dignity and respect and independence was promoted wherever possible.

There were no additional staff employed at the service other than the registered providers. However, where necessary they were supported by a person with the necessary recruitment checks and experience to support people living at Albany House.

People were able to do things they enjoyed and keep in touch with those people who were important to them.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People and relatives knew how to raise any complaints they had and were confident staff would take action if this happened.

Checks were undertaken on the quality of the care by the registered manager through regular communication and by seeking the views of people using the service and their relatives.

Most service certificates were in place to show the service maintained its Gas, fire and electric systems. However the electric maintenance certificate was out of date. This was being addressed by the registered manager to ensure the systems were safe.