23 October 2014
During a routine inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
We carried out the inspection on 23 October 2014. The inspection visit was unannounced.
53 Coachman’s Drive is a residential care home that provides accommodation, care and support for up to two adults. The home provides ground floor accommodation and is fully accessible to people who are physically disabled. The service is situated in the Croxteth Park area of Liverpool.
During the inspection we met a person who lived at the home, we also spoke with a relative, three members of the care staff team and the registered manager.
We found that people living at the home were protected from avoidable harm and potential abuse because the provider had taken steps to minimise the risk of abuse. Clear procedures for preventing abuse and for responding to allegation of abuse were in place. Staff were confident about recognising and reporting suspected abuse and the registered manager was well aware of their responsibilities to report abuse to relevant agencies.
People were provided with good care and support that was tailored to meet their individual needs. People had a plan of care which was detailed, personalised and provided clear guidance on how to meet their needs. Risks to people’s safety and welfare had been assessed and plans were in place to manage these.
Staff worked well with health and social care professionals to make sure people received the care and support they needed. Staff referred to outside professionals promptly for advice and support. Medication was managed safely and people received their medication as prescribed. People’s support plans included detailed guidance about how to support people with their medicines.
Staff were able to tell us about the different approaches they used to support people to make choices. People’s care plans included detailed information about their preferences and choices and about how they were supported to communicate and express choices.
The registered manager and staff had sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and their roles and responsibilities linked to this. They were able to tell us how they ensured decisions were made in people’s best interests.
Staff presented as caring and we saw that they treated a person who lived at the home with warmth and respect during the course of our visit. A relative we spoke with told us they felt staff were caring towards their family member. There was an open culture at the home and staff told us they would not hesitate to raise concerns and felt that any concerns they did raise would be dealt with appropriately. Throughout our visit staff demonstrated how they supported the aims and objectives of the service in ensuring it was person centred and inclusive. ‘Person centred’ means the individual needs of the person and their wishes and preferences are at the centre of how the service is delivered.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s needs and keep people safe. Staff recruitment checks were robust and staff were only employed to work at the home when the provider had obtained satisfactory checks on their suitability.
Staff were well supported in their roles and responsibilities. Staff had been provided with relevant training and they attended regular supervision meetings and team meetings. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and the lines of accountability within the home and the larger organisation.
There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law. The registered manager had worked for the provider for over 30 years and had been the registered manager for the home for four years.
The premises were safe and well maintained and procedures were in place to protect people from hazards and to respond to emergencies. The home was fully accessible and aids and adaptations were in place in to meet people’s individual needs in line with the advice of relevant professionals.
People were protected from the risk of cross infection because staff had been trained appropriately and followed good practice guidelines for the control of infection.
Systems were in place to regularly check on the quality of the service and ensure improvements were made. These included regular audits on areas of practice and seeking people’s views about the quality of the service.