• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Disabilities Trust - 52 Porthcawl Green

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK4 3AL (01908) 507149

Provided and run by:
The Disabilities Trust

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

8 November 2017

During a routine inspection

52 Porthcawl Green provides 24 hour care and support for a maximum of three adults with a learning disability. The house is located in a residential area in Milton Keynes. At the time of our visit there were three people using the service.

At the last inspection on 12 November 2015 the service was rated Good.

At this inspection on 08 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 receive safe care. Staff had received training to enable them to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and felt confident in how to report them. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as they could be in a safe manner. The premises were appropriately maintained to support people to stay safe. Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the service and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

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. The care that people received continued to be effective and meet their needs. Staff received an induction process when they first commenced work at the service and in addition also received on-going training to ensure they were able to provide care based on current practice when supporting people.

People received enough to eat and drink and staff gave support when required. People were supported by staff to use and access a wide variety of other services and social care professionals. The staff had a good knowledge of other services available to people and we saw these had been involved with supporting people using the service. People were supported to access health appointments when required, including opticians and doctors, to make sure they received continuing healthcare to meet their needs.

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.

People had developed positive relationships with the staff, who were caring and treated people with respect, kindness and courtesy. The culture was open and honest and focused on each person as an individual. People were encouraged to make decisions about how their care was provided and 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. People 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 a positive ethos and an open culture. The registered manager and senior staff were positive role models 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. A range of quality checks were in place and used regularly to ensure people received a good quality service driven by improvement.

12/11/2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 12 November 2015 and was unannounced.

Disabilities Trust – 52 Porthcawl Green is a residential care home which provides care and support for up to three people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum condition. The service supports people to live as independently as possible, helping them with daily living tasks and accessing the community. When we visited there were three people living at the service.

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 were safe from harm or abuse. Staff were aware of the principles of safeguarding and signs of abuse, as well as their responsibilities in terms of recording and reporting it.

Risk assessments were in place for people and the service in general to reduce the chances of harm occurring, whilst promoting people’s independence.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and provide them with the care they needed. Safe recruitment procedures were in place to ensure staff were suitable for their roles.

Arrangements were in place for the safe administration and management of people’s medication.

Staff received on-going training and support from the service. They had regular training, refresher sessions as well as supervision and appraisal meetings with senior and management staff.

Staff gained people’s consent before providing them with care. They were aware of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and applied them to their roles to help people make decisions.

People were able to choose what they wanted to eat and drink, and were supported by staff to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Staff helped people to have regular access to healthcare professionals and supported them with appointments when required.

There were positive and meaningful relationships between people and staff. Staff knew people well and were able to adapt their communication to meet people’s specific needs.

People were able to contribute to the planning of their care and their views and opinions were valued and taken seriously by the service.

Information was available to people regarding their care, as well as the running of the service. Staff helped them to understand this information and it was also available in easy-read formats.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected by the staff team. Staff promoted people to be as independent as possible and encouraged them to receive visitors in the service.

People received person-centred care which was specific to their individual needs. They were involved in planning and reviewing their care, to ensure their views were represented.

Trips and activities were arranged regularly for people and were based upon their preferences.

Comments and complaints were encouraged to provide feedback on the service. Satisfaction surveys were also sent to people to seek their feedback.

There was a positive culture at the service. A well-established staff team cared for people in a person-centred and empowering way.

There was good leadership in place. People and staff felt well supported by the registered manager.

Quality checks and audits were completed to ensure people were cared for appropriately and safely.

7 April 2014

During a routine inspection

Our inspection team was made up of one inspector. We gathered evidence to help us answer our five questions; Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people who used the service, the staff supporting them and from looking at records.

Is the service caring?

People who used the service told us they were well supported and looked after. Staff regularly asked people if they were satisfied with the care they received and if they wanted any changes. Staff supported people in leading a varied lifestyle that promoted their independence. One person said: "I like it here". People were supported by kind and attentive staff.

Is the service responsive?

We were told about the extra support that had been provided to help a person to settle in who had just moved into the home. We saw examples of the activities that people had. Staff told us about the changes they intended to make to enhance a person's daily living skills.

Is the service safe?

People indicated through their body language that they felt safe in their environment and with staff. Risk management was an integral part of the service to protect people from harm or injuries. The premises were appropriate and equipment was kept safe to avoid unnecessary risk. Staff recruitment practices were safe and thorough that protected people from harm.

Is the service effective?

People's support and care needs were assessed and care plans were in place. These were regularly reviewed to ensure that staff had up to date guidance. We found that people's health needs were monitored and the assistance of external professionals had been requested. People's mobility needs were taken into account in assisting them to move freely about the home.

Is the service well led?

There was a robust quality assurance system place. Records of audits carried out included actions that were needed that would benefit the people who used the service. Staff had a good understanding of the ethos of the home their required standards of work.

29 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We met with both people that used the service. One person was able to tell us that they were very happy living at Porthcawl Green, the other person was able to indicate that they liked living at the property. We saw that both people had a programme of activities to occupy them. They were both dressed appropriately and looked well cared for. We spoke with family members of both people who used the service. They told us that they were happy with the care and support that their relative had received.

We found that there was a system in place for the safe management of medicines.

We found that people's health needs had been assessed and regularly reviewed.

We found that staff had received regular supervision and appraisal and had received additional training relevant to the requirements of their job.

We found the service to be safe, effective and compassionate.

6 March 2013

During a routine inspection

People who use the service were given appropriate information and support regarding their support and care. People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. Their interests and particular needs had been taken into account and changes made to the delivery of care where appropriate. Appropriate communication techniques were identified and used to enable people with limited verbal and written communication skills to be involved with their care as much or as little as they wanted.

People's needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. Assessments of need, care plans were up to date and comprehensive. Care and support was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.

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.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. People using the service told us that they got on well with staff and could talk to them. Staff had received a wide range of training during the last year.

There was an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive. A programme of regular audits was undertaken with action taken to remedy any areas for improvement.