Archived: Gwenlyn House

At the last inspection on 25 November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The person who lived at the home told us they were happy, felt safe and were treated with kindness at all times. The person said, “I am very happy living here.”

The carers in the home were the registered provider and her husband. The service did not employ any staff. The person who lived at the home was independent and could attend to their own care needs with minimum supervision.

Suitable arrangements were in place to protect the person from abuse and unsafe care. The person told us they felt safe and their rights and dignity were respected.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to the person during their daily routines and delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

The registered provider and her husband had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support the person who lived at the home with their care and social needs.

We found the person who lived at the home was in good health and did not need to take any medicines. Appropriate arrangements for storing medicines were in place should the person need to take any medicines in the future.

We saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for the person who lived at the home. They told us they were treated as an individual and received person centred care.

We looked around the building and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

The service had safe infection control procedures in place. The person who lived at the home told us they were happy with the standard of hygiene in place.

We found the person who lived at the home had been supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and they were supported in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We looked at the care records for the person. There was information in place about their support needs and how these were being met.

The person was happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We observed the person had unrestricted access to the kitchen and could prepare drinks and snacks whenever they wished.

The person who lived at the home had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met.

We found a variety of activities were organised for the persons entertainment. These included external activities in the local community and going on holiday with the registered provider.

The service had information with regards to support from an external advocate should this be required by them.

The service had a complaints procedure which was on display in the hallway for people’s attention. The person we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

There was no formal internal quality assurance in place but informal checks were made routinely. Everyone talked together frequently to discuss any plans or changes. Decisions were made as a family group.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, the staff supporting them, people visiting the home and from looking at records. We also spoke with Blackpool council's contracts monitoring team and Healthwatch Blackpool who are an independent consumer champion for health and social care.

If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read our full report.

Is the service safe?

The person living at the home told us they felt safe and their rights and dignity was respected. They told us they were receiving safe and appropriate care which was meeting their needs. Safeguarding procedures were in place and the provider understood how to safeguard the person they supported. The person living at the home had capacity to make decisions for themselves. They told us there was no restriction on their freedom of movement inside or outside the home.

Although we had no concerns the person's liberty was being restricted we have asked the provider to make contact with the local council. We did this so they could attend the councils training courses in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. This will ensure they have been trained to understand when an application should be made and in how to submit one. This would ensure that people in their care would be safeguarded as required.

Equipment had been maintained and serviced regularly ensuring the person living at the home was not put at unnecessary risk.

Is the service effective?

The person's health and care needs had been assessed with them and they were involved in writing their plan of care. Specialist dietary needs had been identified where required. The person's care plan had risk assessments completed to identify the potential risk of accidents and harm. We found the person's care plan was flexible, regularly reviewed for their effectiveness and changed in recognition of the changing needs of the person. We spoke with the person being supported and they said their care plan was up to date and reflected their current needs.

Is the service caring?

The person's care plan had been maintained recording the care and support they were receiving. These described the daily activities the person had undertaken and their involvement in decision making within the home. We saw the person's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded. Also their care and support had been provided in accordance with the person's wishes. The person told us they were very happy living at the home and looked on the providers as her family. The person said, 'I am very lucky to live here. I am looked after very well. I am fully involved in decision making about the running of the home and my own lifestyle. I am very happy and wouldn't wish to live anywhere else'.

Is the service responsive?

We found the person completed a range of activities in and outside the service regularly. These included completing jig saws and undertaking various activities with the provider. The person said they enjoyed having days out, going shopping and going out for meals. The person was also very happy to show us their holiday photographs taken in Turkey with the provider last year. The person told us they were kept busy and entertained and they didn't get bored. The person knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy. They told us they had no reason to complain. We found the person had access to healthcare professionals. Care records confirmed they received regular health checks with their General Practitioner and the outcome of these visits had been recorded.

Is the service well-led?

The service worked well with other agencies and services to make sure the person they supported received their care in a joined up way. The service had quality assurance systems in place. Records showed that identified problems and opportunities to change things for the better were addressed promptly. As a result the quality of the service was continuously improving. The person living at the home said they received a good quality service at all times.

The two people living at this home had been supported by the provider for a number of years. They said they were treated with dignity and respect and encouraged to maintain their independence. Both people told us they were happy living in the home and they felt safe and comfortable. They told us they were involved in decision making about their care and their views were always respected. They said routines were flexible and they could get up and go to bed when they wished. They said they enjoyed their meals and they could pursue activities individually and as a family group. One person said, 'I love living here and never want to leave. We all get on very well, the meals are excellent and my privacy is respected'.

During our inspection we contacted the Blackpool contracts monitoring team. They told us they currently had no concerns with the service being provided by the home.