Background to this inspection
Updated
30 October 2015
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 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.
Before the inspection we looked at all the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
This inspection took place on 10 and 11 September 2015 and was unannounced. The inspection team comprised of two inspectors and a specialist nurse advisor.
During the inspection we looked at 10 people’s care records, 11 staff records, quality assurance records, accidents and incidents, and policies and procedures. Some people using the service did not communicate verbally so we spent time observing them, we spoke with four people using the service and five relatives about their family members experience of using the service, we spoke with one external health care professional. We also spoke with the operations manager, acting manager and seven members of staff.
Updated
30 October 2015
This unannounced inspection took place on 10 and 11 September 2015. At the last inspection on 05 November 2013, the service met all the regulations that we inspected.
Emerton Close provides personal care and support for up to 10 adults who have a range of needs including learning disabilities. There were 10 people receiving personal care and support at the time of our inspection.
There was no registered manager in post. 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 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 relatives said they felt safe and staff treated their family members well. We observed that people looked happy and relaxed. There were clear procedures in place to recognise and respond to abuse and staff had been trained in how to follow these. Risk assessments were in place and reflected current risks for people who used the service and ways to try and reduce the risk from happening. Appropriate arrangements for the management of people’s medicines were not in place. Staff received training in administering medicines.
The manager and staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and acted according to this legislation.
Staff received an induction and further training to help them undertake their role. However, most of the staff had not received regular supervision and annual appraisal in line with the provider’s policy. People received enough to eat and drink and their preferences were taken into account.
Staff knew people’s needs well and treated them in a kind and dignified manner. People’s relatives told us their family members were happy and well looked after. They felt confident they could share any concerns and these would be acted upon. Staff were able to respond to people’s communication needs and provided appropriate support to those who required assistance with their meals.
People’s care and support needs were regularly reviewed to make sure they received the right care and support.
There was a positive culture at the service where people felt included and consulted. Relatives commented positively about the management of the service. Some aspects of the quality monitoring and audits system were not effective. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation was not notified to CQC as required by law
We found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) regulations 2014.You can see what action we took at the back of the full version of this report.