Archived: Southside House

Updated 11 January 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 was 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 visit took place on 5 December 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector. Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we had about the home, including notifications of events the home is required by law to send us.

People who lived in Southside House were able to talk to us about their experience of the home and share their views with us. We spent time and spoke with every person who lived in the home. We looked around the home, spent time in the kitchen, the dining room and people’s bedrooms with their consent. We spoke with one member of support staff and the registered manager.

We looked at the way in which medicines were recorded, stored and administered to people. We also looked at the ways in which meals were prepared and served. We looked in detail at the care provided to three people, including looking at their care files and other records. We looked at the recruitment and training files for three staff members and other records relating to the operation of the home such as risk assessments, policies and procedures.

Updated 11 January 2017

Southside House provides accommodation and support for up to six people with learning disabilities.

The home had a registered manager. 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We carried out a previous inspection of this service in October 2013 where we found the service was meeting the requirements in the areas we looked at.

This inspection took place on 5 December 2016 and was unannounced. At the time of our inspection there were five people living in Southside House. People who lived in Southside House were highly independent but had some needs which meant they required staff support.

People’s individual needs had been identified and plans had been put in place to ensure staff met those needs. People who lived in the home were encouraged to be as independent as possible in line with their capabilities. People were protected from risks relating to their health, medicines, moods and behaviours. Staff had assessed individual risks to people and had taken action to put plans in place to minimise these risks. People told us they felt safe at the home and made comments including “I feel safe” and “When I haven’t been very well they’ve been brilliant.”

Staff supported most people to take their medicines, this was done safely and staff competencies relating to the administration of medicines were checked. Regular medicine audits ensured people were receiving medicines as prescribed by their doctor. Staff knew how to recognise possible signs of abuse which also helped protect people. Staff knew what signs to look out for and the procedures to follow should they need to report concerns. Safeguarding information and contact numbers for the relevant bodies were accessible. Staff told us they felt comfortable raising concerns.

Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure only people of good character were employed by the home. Staff underwent Disclosure and Barring Service (police record) checks before they started work in order to ensure they were suitable to work with people who were vulnerable. Staffing numbers at Southside House were sufficient to meet people’s needs and provide them with individual support and time to take part in their chosen activities.

People spoke highly of the staff at the home and their caring attitudes. Comments from people included “All the staff are lovely”, “They bend over backwards for us, they really do” and “They couldn’t do more if they tried.” Staff spent time with people individually and knew people’s needs, preferences, likes and dislikes. Staff understood people’s preferred communication methods and used these to involve people in their care and support them to make choices.

Staff had the skills required to meet people’s needs. We found some training had not been completed by staff but found no evidence this had impacted on people living in Southside House. The registered manager assured us, however, this training would be organised as soon as possible.

Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and had received training in this area. People were supported to make decisions for themselves and their capacity had been assessed. People were able to make themselves meals and drinks and received support from staff where needed. People could help themselves to foods and fluids that met their needs and preferences.

The registered manager of Southside House worked shifts alongside staff. They led by example to ensure best practice was followed. People and staff spoke highly of the registered manager and told us they were approachable. Comments from people included “The manager is nice and approachable” and “She always says if you’ve got a problem come and talk to me.” People and relatives were asked for their feedback and suggestions in order to improve the service provided and there were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the support being provided at the home.

We identified some concerns with the maintenance of records at the home and have made a recommendation for the provider to review the systems in place for ensuring records are kept up to date.