Background to this inspection
Updated
20 December 2017
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.
This comprehensive inspection took place on 07 November 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because we needed to be sure that someone would be in.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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.
During this inspection we spoke with three people using the service and one of their relatives. We spoke with three members of staff on the day of our visit and another the following day. They included the registered manager, the team leader and two care and support staff. We observed the interactions between people who used the service and staff.
We reviewed the care records of two people that used the service which included their care plans, health and medication records, risk assessments and daily care records. We also looked at the recruitment records for two members of staff to see how the provider operated their recruitment procedures. Other records we examined related to the management of the service and included staff rotas, training and supervision records, quality audits and service user feedback, in order to ensure that robust quality monitoring systems were in place.
Updated
20 December 2017
49 Stolford Rise provides 24 hour care and support for a maximum of three younger adults with a high functioning autistic spectrum disorder. The house is located in a residential area in Milton Keynes. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service.
At the last inspection on 19 November 2015 the service was rated Good.
At this inspection on 07 November 2017 we found the service remained Good.
There was a 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 continued to feel safe. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to safeguard people from the risk of harm and risks to people were assessed and monitored regularly. The premises were appropriately maintained to support people to stay safe. Staff understood how to prevent and manage behaviours that the service may find challenging.
Staffing levels ensured that people's care and support needs were safely met and safe recruitment processes were in place. Medicines were managed safely. The processes in place ensured that the administration and handling of medicines was suitable for the people who used the service. Systems were in place to ensure the premises was kept clean and hygienic so that people were protected by the prevention and control of infection. There were arrangements in place for the service to make sure that action was taken and lessons learned when things went wrong, to improve safety across the service
People’s needs and choices were assessed and their care provided in line with up to date guidance and best practice. They received care from staff that had received training and support to carry out their roles. People were encouraged to prepare their own meals and make health choices to maintain their health and well-being. Staff supported people to book and attend appointments with healthcare professionals, and supported them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.
People’s diverse needs were met by the adaptation, design and decoration of premises and they were involved in decisions about the environment. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and they gained people's consent before providing personal care.
Staff were caring and compassionate and meaningful relationships had developed between people and staff. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff ensured their privacy was maintained. People were encouraged to make decisions about how their care was provided staff had a good understanding of people's needs and preferences.
People were listened to, their views were acknowledged and acted upon and care and support was delivered in the way that people chose and preferred. Care plans were person centred and reflected how people’s needs were to be met. Records showed that people and their relatives were involved in the assessment process and the on-going reviews of their care. They were supported to take part in activities which they wanted to do, within the service and the local community. There was a complaints procedure in place to enable people to raise complaints about the service.
The service had an open culture which encouraged communication and learning. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about the service and it was used to drive continuous improvement. Staff were motivated to perform their roles and worked to empower people to be as independent as possible. The provider had quality assurance systems to review the quality of the service to help drive improvement.