Background to this inspection
Updated
4 July 2018
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.
The Laurels is ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
This inspection visit took place on 13 April 2018, was unannounced and was carried out by one inspector.
Before our inspection we contacted two health and social care professional in relation to the care and support being provided at The Laurels. We reviewed the information we held about the home, including previous reports and notifications of incidents the registered provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
People were not able to verbally communicate their views with us or answer our direct questions. During our inspection we spoke with the registered manager, four staff members, one agency member of staff and the operations manager. We reviewed feedback records from relatives and healthcare workers.
We looked at three people’s care records, three staff files, a sample of audits, satisfaction surveys, staff attendance rosters and checked the provider’s policies and procedures.
We previously inspected The Laurels on 16 March 2016 and rated the service good.
Updated
4 July 2018
The Laurels is registered to provider care and support for up to eight people. Some people using the service may have a learning disability or require support with their mental health.
At the last inspection on 31 January 2017 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
Relatives were happy with the care provided. They felt their family members received safe care from staff members who were supported by the registered manager.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People had care plans in place which provided detailed guidance to staff on the support people required.
People had access to other health professionals and were supported to take their medicines. Safe medicine practices were promoted.
Effective systems were in place to safeguard people from possible abuse.
People were provided with the information and opportunities to raise concerns. Risks to people were identified and managed.
Staff were kind, caring and had a positive relationship with people and had a good understanding of peoples’ needs.
People received sufficient food and drink relevant to their health conditions.
Care records contained information about people’s food preferences and their ability to prepare their own meals independently or with support.
The required staffing levels were maintained and regular agency staff were used to cover shifts to promote continuity of care for people.
The home was clean and suitably maintained. Systems were in place to ensure equipment was safe to use and that infection control risks were minimised.
Staff were suitably recruited, inducted and trained to fulfil their roles. They received support from the registered manager and one to one supervision meetings.
Management of the service was effective in driving improvement.