Gladstone Road

Updated 8 June 2018

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 was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 10 May 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day and the manager was not based at the location. We needed to be sure that they would be available.

Gladstone Road is situated in the residential area of Seaforth. The service is operated by Autism Initiatives and provides care and support for three people with a diagnosis of autism and learning disabilities. The home is located close to public transport links and leisure and shopping facilities.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we checked the information that we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. We used all of this information to plan how the inspection should be conducted.

During the inspection we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who lived at Gladstone Road. This was because the people who lived there communicated in different ways and we were not able to directly ask them their views about their experiences. We spent a short time observing the support provided to help us understand people's experiences of the service. Our observations showed people appeared relaxed and at ease with the staff. We spoke with two staff, including the manager. After the inspection we spoke with two relatives get their views about the service and received comments from a health care professional.

We spent time looking at records, including two care records (person centred plans), three staff files, medication administration record (MAR) sheets, staff training plans and other records relating to how the home was managed.

Updated 8 June 2018

Gladstone Road is a residential care home for two people with a diagnosis of autism and learning disabilities. The home is situated in the residential area of Seaforth. The home is located close to public transport links and leisure and shopping facilities.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service met all relevant fundamental standards.

Relatives we spoke with told us that they felt their family members were safe at the home and that staff took care of their needs. We saw through people's body language that people were comfortable with the staff.

There were robust measures in place to ensure people were safe. Risk assessments were in place specific to their individual needs and any behaviour they may present. They included detailed guidance for staff so people could be supported appropriately. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults from abuse and knew what to do if they saw or suspected abuse.

There was sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs. People required individualised staff support to access the community and take part in activities. Staff were consistently provided to enable them to do this. Staff had been appropriately recruited to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

We found that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people effectively and safely. Staff were supported by the manager and senior support workers through regular supervisions, annual appraisal and regular training. Staff meetings were held regularly.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff had been trained to administer medicines in order to ensure errors were kept to a minimum.

We found the home clean with no odours. The home was well maintained and in good decorative order. People's bedrooms were personalised. Regular checks and tests, such as gas, electricity, water safety, fire drills, weekly fire alarm tests and external checks of fire fighting equipment, were completed to maintain safety in the home.

People's needs were assessed and reviewed regularly to reflect people's current health and support needs. We saw that people were supported to achieve their outcomes. Appointments were made regularly for the GP, dentist and optician to help to maintain good health.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. We saw that people were encouraged to eat healthily and adopt an active lifestyle.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People made decisions and choices in relation to their care, support received and daily activities. Staff knew the people well and how they communicated their needs and choices, including their preferred daily routine.

The relatives we spoke with told us they felt that the staff were caring. People were supported to be as independent as possible. Staff spoke positively and with compassion about people’s independence and their achievements.

Clear records of people’s daily routines helped to ensure staff supported people according to their preference. The use of a ‘visual planner’ showed people’s routines to provided reassurance and as a memory aide for what was planned for the day.

Visitors were free to come to the home and see their family member when they wanted, and there was space in the home for people to visit in comfort either in the person's room, or in the communal areas.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. Care plans were written for the individual and informed staff of their preferences and wishes. We found they contained detailed information that enabled staff to meet people’s needs. Support plans were completed to show the goals people wanted to achieve.

People in the home enjoyed a range of activities, with staff support. People accessed the community to enjoy amenities such as pub lunches, walks in the countryside, swimming and gardening.

There was a complaints policy in place but no complaints had been received since the last inspection in 2016. The policy was displayed in the home.

The registered provider had appointed a new manager to the home. They had submitted an application to the Commission to be the registered manager for Gladstone Road.

There was a person-centred and open culture in the home. Staff showed a commitment to provide support which achieved good outcomes for the people living in the home.

Quality assurance audits were completed by support staff and senior care staff which included, medication and health and safety.

There was a process completed annually where relatives had the opportunity to voice their opinions about the service. Staff and relatives were in regular contact by telephone, email and instant messaging to keep them updated.

The manager and registered provider met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They had submitted notifications and the ratings from the last inspection were clearly displayed in the home.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.