Background to this inspection
Updated
26 June 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
15 Sussex Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. Young people with autism and learning disabilities live there whilst they attend Arden College in Southport. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included any statutory notifications sent to us by the registered provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. This information helps to plan our inspection.
The provider did not complete the required Provider Information Return (PIR) as the service was closed for major refurbishment at the time the PIR was received. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with a relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, the residential home manager and a senior care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included the person’s care records and medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment, staff supervision and training records and sampled a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with two professionals who had commissioned the service and worked with the staff.
Updated
26 June 2019
About the service
15 Sussex Road is a semi-detached house in Southport situated close to the town centre and its amenities. It is a specialist residential college service providing personal and nursing care to one person aged 18 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to three people. It is part of Arden College that provides specialist further education for young people aged 16-25 years of age with learning disabilities. Accommodation can be term time only or for fifty-two weeks a year.
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.
The building was a semi-detached house, which fitted into the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
The service was safe. Risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and mitigated. Medicines were managed in a safe way.
People were supported to take positive risks to ensure they were able to access the community and live fulfilling lives. Staff knew people's identified risks well and were able to support people during an activity and when out in the community in a safe way. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff received safeguarding training and had access to relevant information and guidance about how to protect people from harm.
There were enough staff deployed to ensure people received appropriate care and support. Staff worked with the person in the service and at the college. This provided the person with consistency.
Staff were familiar with the level of support people required as well as being familiar with their likes, dislikes and preferences. Staff had developed effective communication with a person, using their particular signs and symbols. This meant that the person was able to make their own decisions about their support; staff ensured they were supported to make choices on a day to day basis. This helped the person to plan their lifestyle. People had choice and control over their meals, in accordance with their wishes and preferences.
People were supported to be as independent as possible with aspects of daily living. Staff supported people to access activities and amenities in their local area. People were supported to maintain good health. Regular appointments were made with local dentists and health clinics.
Family members were kept up to date with the well-being of their relative. They were in regular contact with staff and were able to visit the service when they wanted to. They spoke positively about the service 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 28 October 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.