Santa Care

Updated 6 November 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 10 October 2018 and was unannounced.’

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included the Provider Information Return (PIR) which the provider had completed before the inspection. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We discussed the PIR with the provider during the inspection.

During the inspection we observed interactions between staff and people using the service. We spoke to the five people who used the service, the provider, a senior care worker and a care worker. Following the inspection, we spoke with a relative of a person using the service and a person’s care coordinator. We also received feedback about the service from a social care professional.

We also reviewed a variety of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included care files of all the people using the service, four staff records, audits and some policies and procedures.

Updated 6 November 2018

The inspection of Santa Care took place on 10 October 2018 and was unannounced.

Santa Care is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Santa Care provides care and support for up to five women who have learning disabilities, some of whom live with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support (RRS) and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The care home is owned and managed by Santa Bapoo, an individual who owns two other care homes in North West London. There is no requirement for a separate registered manager for this location. On the day of the inspection there were five people using the service. Public transport and a range of shops and other amenities are located close to the home.

At our previous comprehensive inspection on the 1 and 4 March 2016 we rated the service 'requires improvement' area of Safe. This was because we identified one breach of legal requirement because there were insufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. During a follow-up focused unannounced inspection on the 1 December 2016 we found that the provider had taken action to ensure that there were always sufficient staff on duty and therefore had addressed our concerns. Whilst improvements had been made, we did not revise the rating for the key question Safe, because to improve the rating to Good we required a longer-term track record of consistent good practice.

During this inspection we found there were no breaches of the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and we rated the service overall as Good.

All the people using the service told us that they felt safe, were happy living in the home and satisfied with the care and support that they received from staff.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and engaged with them in a respectful, sensitive and encouraging manner. Staff had a caring approach to their work and understood the importance of treating people with dignity, protecting people's privacy and respecting their differences and human rights.

People's care plans were up to date and personalised. They included details about people’s individual needs and preferences, and guidance for staff to follow so people received the care and support that they needed and wanted.

People had the opportunity to choose, plan and take part in a range of activities that met their interests and needs.

Appropriate staff recruitment procedures were in place so that only suitable staff were employed. Staffing levels and skill mix provided people with the assistance and care that they needed.

Staff received the training and support that they required to carry out their roles and responsibilities in meeting people’s individual needs and supporting their independence.

People’s medicines were managed safely. People were supported to access the healthcare services they needed. Staff liaised closely with healthcare and social care professionals to ensure that people’s health, medical and care needs were met.

People told us that they enjoyed the meals provided by the service. Their dietary needs and preferences were accommodated by the service.

Staff understood their obligations regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). 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 knew how to raise a complaint. They told us that they were listened to and their concerns addressed appropriately by the provider.

Since the last inspection the provider had improved and developed the arrangements for monitoring and improving the quality of the service provided to people.