514 Arnold Road

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service:

The risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and used to reduce risk. People felt safe when staff supported them. People were protected from risks of abuse and neglect. There were enough staff to keep people safe. People’s medicines were managed safely. The home was clean and tidy. Staff learned from mistakes to ensure people received safe care and support.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them starting with the service. Staff were well trained and had their competency to carry out their role regularly assessed. People were given the support they needed to make healthy food choices. People had access to other health and social care agencies and professionals where needed. People lived in an environment that was adapted and suitable for their needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. People and relatives praised the approach of the staff. People were treated with dignity and respect and their diverse needs and choices were respected and acted on. People were supported to make decisions about their care needs and staff respected their wishes. People’s records were stored securely to protect their privacy.

People’s care was provided in their preferred way. People were empowered to make their own decisions about their lives. Staff understood people’s preferences and enabled people to make choices about their care. People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family and to meet people from their local community. People had access to information in a format they could understand. Complaints were handled appropriately and in-line with the provider’s complaints policy. People did not currently receive end of life care.

The home was managed by dedicated and caring registered and deputy managers. All staff understood their roles and how they contributed to the success of the home. Person-centred care was at the heart of everything staff did. Staff enjoyed their role and felt their views mattered. People’s views were welcomed and valued, and action was taken to address any concerns. Quality assurance processes were in place to continually assess the standard of the care provided.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was Good. (Published 6 July 2017).

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

At the last inspection, in December 2015, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found that the service remained ‘Good’.

People continued to receive safe care. Staff had received appropriate adult safeguarding training and were aware of their role and responsibilities to protect people from avoidable harm. Risks associated with people’s individual needs, including the environment and premises had been assessed and plans were in place to mitigate any risks. Procedures were in place to report any accidents and incidents and these were investigated and acted upon appropriately.

Staff underwent appropriate recruitment checks before they commenced their employment. Staffing levels were flexible and regularly reviewed to ensure they met people’s individual needs. People were supported to receive their prescribed medicines safely.

People continued to receive effective care and support. Staff received an appropriate induction, ongoing training and opportunities to discuss and review their work, development and training needs.

The principles of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been applied where required. People were supported with any dietary and nutritional needs and meal preferences were known and respected. People were supported appropriately with their health care needs and the staff worked well with external healthcare professionals following any guidance and recommendations made.

People continued to receive good care. People had developed positive relationships with staff who understood their individual routines and preferences, and knew what was important to them. Staff were caring and treated people with respect, kindness and dignity. Staff supported people to maximise their independence. People had access to information about independent advocacy services and had received support to access these when required. People were involved in discussions and decisions as fully as possible about how they received their care and support.

People continued to receive a service that was responsive to their individual needs. Staff had information available to support them to provide an individualised service based on people’s needs, preferences and routines as well as anything else that was important to them. The provider’s complaints policy and procedure had been made available for people.

The service continued to be well-led. People, relatives and external health and social care professionals were positive that the leadership of the service was good. Communication was open and transparent.

The provider had effective arrangements for monitoring and assessing the quality and safety of care and support people experienced. The provider had quality assurance processes in place that encouraged people to give feedback about the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We spoke with one person using the service and they told us they were happy with the care and support they received from staff. We asked another person if they were happy living in the home and felt the staff cared for them well and they said, 'Yes.'

One person using the service told us, 'I feel safe with the staff. If I was worried about anything I would talk to the manager and she would put things right.'

People who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. Staff we spoke with were all able to tell us how they would respond to allegations or incidents of abuse and they had received training in how to safeguard people from abuse.

The service also provides an 'outreach service' and deliver care and support to people in their own home. However at the time of our inspection the registered manager told us they were not currently providing care to anyone in thier own homes and so we did not assess this regulated activity.

We spoke to one person using the service about whether they were supported to make choices and if they felt staff respected their privacy and dignity. This person told us they were able to do what they liked in the home. 'I can spend time in my flat when I want and can do what I like. I think the staff are respectful.' This person also gave positive comments about the care provided saying, 'I like it here, it is a good home.'

One person we spoke with told us they liked the staff working in the service. 'I like them, they are good to us.' This person knew what to do if they had any concerns. They told us they would see the manager and 'She would sort things out.'

People had been supported to complete a satisfaction questionnaire. There had been comments like, 'I choose my activities', 'Staff help me choose my colours for my room', 'I enjoy my holidays and have a good time with the people I go with' and 'Staff listen to what I have to say.'