This unannounced inspection took place on 19 January 2016. The service was last inspected on 4 November 2013 when all standards were met and no concerns were identified.
9 Blunt Street is a detached house in a small village development. The service offers personal and social care to four people with a severe learning disability with associated conditions that include autism, sensory and physical disability and behaviour that may challenge others.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.
People’s needs were assessed and their care plans provided staff with clear guidance about how they wanted their individual needs met. Care plans were person centred and contained appropriate risk assessments. They were regularly reviewed and amended as necessary to ensure they reflected people’s changing support needs.
People were kept safe because staff understood their responsibilities should they suspect abuse was taking place and knew how to report any concerns they had. Potential risks to people’s safety had been assessed and measures had been put in place to mitigate these risks. There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs. Accidents and incidents were monitored and analysed to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. There were plans in place to ensure that people’s care would not be interrupted in the event of an emergency.
People’s medicines were managed safely, in accordance with current regulations and through guidance for staff, who had received appropriate training to help ensure safe practice. There were systems in place to ensure that medicines had been stored, administered, audited and reviewed appropriately.
People received consistent care and support from an established staff team who knew and understood their needs. They were happy, comfortable and relaxed with staff and said they felt safe. They received care and support from staff who were appropriately trained and confident to meet their individual needs and they were able to access health, social and medical care, as required. There were opportunities for additional staff training specific to the needs of the service. Staff received one-to-one supervision meetings with their manager. Formal personal development plans, such as annual appraisals, were also in place.
The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People’s best interests had been considered when they needed support to make decisions and applications for DoLS authorisations had been submitted where restrictions were imposed to keep people safe.
People were protected from risks associated with eating and drinking as their nutritional needs were assessed and any specific dietary requirements were managed effectively. Staff enabled people to make informed choices about what they ate and supported them to maintain a balanced diet. People were supported to maintain good health and to obtain treatment when they needed it. The service had effective relationships with healthcare professionals, which ensured people received the care and treatment they needed in a timely manner.
People were supported with patience, consideration and kindness and their privacy and dignity was respected. Staff made sure people had the information they needed to make informed choices and to understand information that was important to them. People were supported to maintain relationships with their friends and families.
Safe recruitment procedures were followed and appropriate pre-employment checks had been made including evidence of identity and satisfactory written references. Such checks helped to ensure new staff were safe to work within the care sector.
There was a formal complaints process in place. People and their relatives were encouraged and supported to express their views about the care and support provided and staff were responsive to their comments. Satisfaction questionnaires were used to obtain the views of people who lived in the home, their relatives and other stakeholders.