• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Allen and Whitworth UK Limited - 119 Whitworth Road

Abington, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 4HQ (01604) 632565

Provided and run by:
Allen and Whitworth UK Ltd

All Inspections

14 May 2014

During a routine inspection

During our visit, we were not able to speak in depth with people who lived at Whitworth Road, due to their medical conditions. We spoke with one of the three people who used the service. They shared some of their experiences at the home and we spoke with two members of staff of different grades.

This is a summary of what we found.

Is the service safe?

We saw that people were being cared for in an environment that was safe and clean.

Staff personnel records contained the information required by the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This meant the provider could demonstrate that the staff employed to work at the home were suitable and had the skills and experience needed to support the people living there.

CQC monitors compliance with the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The aim is to make sure that people in care homes and hospitals are looked after in a way that does not restrict their freedom inappropriately. The safeguards should ensure that a care home or hospital only deprives someone of their liberty in a safe and specific way. This would only be done when it was in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them. There were no restrictions on the freedom of anyone living at the home at the time we visited and no authorisations had been sought from the local authority. The provider had policies and procedures in place and the DoLS Code of Practice was available for staff to refer to. The staff we spoke with understood when an application should be made and how to submit one.

Is the service effective?

The people we spoke with told us that they were happy with the care they received and that their needs had been met. They spoke positively about their care and the staff who supported them. It was clear from what we saw and from speaking with staff that they had a good understanding of the care and support needs of the people who used the service. We saw from the training records we viewed that staff had received training to enable them to meet the needs of the people living at the home.

Is the service caring?

We saw that the staff showed patience and gave encouragement when they were supporting people and that people were able to do things at their own pace and were not rushed.

Is the service responsive?

People's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home. The records we saw confirmed that people's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes. People had access to activities that were important to them and had been supported to maintain relationships with their friends and relatives.

Throughout our visit we found the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. We observed how the staff and the people who used the service worked together and it was clear that there were good relationships between them.

We saw that people's rooms were spacious, light and clean. People had personalised their rooms with their personal belongings. There was a dining area, a kitchen and laundry and a lounge area. The lounge area contained items which reflected the interests of the people who used the service, for example, photographs of holidays they had taken.

Is the service well-led?

We found from speaking with staff that they had a good understanding of the home's values, for example one member of staff told us that their priority was that the people who used the service were happy. Staff told us about their roles and responsibilities and they were clear about these. We saw that quality assurance processes were in place to make sure that the provider monitored the care provided and made improvements where necessary. For example, satisfaction surveys had been completed by people who used the service and their families. The results had been analysed and comments had been acted on.

A variety of information was displayed, such as activities for the week, dignity in care, the service aims and objectives, philosophy of care and safeguarding information.

21 June 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with all three people that used the service. They all told us that they received the support they needed and that they were enabled to make choices about what they did each day. We saw that the staff member on duty had a friendly relationship with all three people, treated them with respect, and took an interest in what they had been doing during the day. We saw that each person was relaxed in the presence of the staff member.

One person said that they had "enjoyed their holiday" at the seaside. Another person said they "liked it here" at 'Whitworth Road'.

We found this small home to be well organised, comfortable, and safely maintained with regard to gas and electrical equipment in use. We saw that some minor repairs around the property were needed and the provider has assured us that this work had already been identified and will be attended to promptly.

13 December 2012

During a routine inspection

We were able to meet with all three people living at 'Whitworth Road' and they confirmed that they liked the staff and were happy living there. We saw that the staff member on duty had a good relationship with all three people, treated them with respect, and took an interest in what they had been doing during the day. We saw that people were relaxed in the presence of staff and were happy to greet the person on duty when they arrived back home from their various community activities.

We found this small home to be well organised, comfortable, and appropriately maintained throughout. Each person received the support and encouragement they needed to lead fulfilling lives. We saw that two people attended a day centre facility and one person had a work placement. We saw that each person regularly participated in various social activities, such as attending clubs, going out for meals, or accompanying staff on outings.

We saw that decorations had been put up for Christmas. People said they were looking forward to the Christmas party organised by the provider for all three homes.

27 January 2012

During a routine inspection

People told us they were happy and liked living at Whitworth Road. They said they liked where the home was because it was near to the shops and town centre. They told us they liked the staff, got on well with them all, and received the support they needed.