703 Burton Road

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff had received infection prevention and control (IPC) training, including instruction on how to put on and take off personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic and managers undertook regular spot checks to ensure good practice.

Staff wore appropriate PPE and PPE stations including hand sanitiser were sited around the home.

People and staff were able to access in the home regular testing as recommended by guidance.

The registered manager was in regular contact with people's relatives and representatives to ensure visits could be maintained in line with government guidance. People were supported to use phone and video calls to maintain regular contact with relatives and friends.

The environment was clean and tidy and people were happy with how staff maintained this.

703 Burton Road is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service.

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 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's experience of using this service and what we found

People continued to feel safe and they were protected from harm. People's care and support had been assessed. Staff had the information they needed to support people safely. The provider recruited staff safely. Staff understood the importance of keeping the home clean and tidy. The management of people's medicines was safe. The management team shared information when things went wrong and ensured staff learned from mistakes which meant people received safe care and support.

People were assessed prior to moving to the service. Staff received training and competency checks to enable them to carry out their roles effectively. People were supported to eat a healthy diet and attend healthcare appointments. 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.

Staff were kind and caring. People's privacy and dignity was respected and people were encouraged live independent lives. 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.

Staff knew people very well and were able to respond to their likes and dislikes. Care plans contained relevant information to enable staff to provide personalised care. Staff understood people's preferred method of communication and supported people to maintain relationships important to them. Complaints were handled appropriately and in-line with the provider's complaints policy. People did not currently receive end of life care.

We made a recommendation about investigating further training for staff to help them manage changes within the service.

We have made a recommendation about ensuring the environment continues to meet people's changing needs as they age.

Staff spoke positively about the new manager. The manager understood their responsibility to ensure people received good quality care. Effective systems monitored and continually improved the quality and safety of the service provided. The service worked with other stakeholders to ensure people received the best possible care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The last rating for this service was Good (published 26 April 2017)

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 reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

People continued to receive safe care and there were enough staff to provide support to people to meet their needs. Staff had been suitably recruited to ensure they were able to work with people who used the service. People were protected from the risk of harm and received their prescribed medicines safely and helped to take responsibility for their medicines.

The care that people received continued to be effective. People made decisions about how they wanted to be supported and they could decide what to do and how to spend their time. Where people lacked capacity they were helped to make decisions. Where their liberty was restricted, this had been identified and action taken to ensure this was lawful. People were responsible for shopping and cooking the food they wanted to eat and supported to develop living skills. They received support to stay well and had access to health care services. Staff had training and professional development that they required to work effectively in their roles.

The care people received remained good. People had developed positive relationships with the staff who treated them with respect and kindness. Staff helped people to make choices about their care and their views were respected. People were involved in the planning and review of their care and family members continued to play an important role. Where people had any concerns they were able to make a complaint and this was responded to.

The service continued to be well-led. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. People and staff were encouraged to raise any views about the service on how improvements could be made. The manager promoted an open culture which put people at the heart of the service.

The service was registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service. This was the first inspection of this service.

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.

People were supported to take risks at home and when out and encouraged to be independent and learn new life skills. Risks were assessed and reviewed to keep people safe and protect them from avoidable harm. People were protected from unnecessary harm by staff who knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report concerns in line with local safeguarding adult’s procedures.

Medicines were managed safely to ensure that people received their medicines as prescribed and to keep well.

People were supported to maintain their preferred diet and were supported to plan, and prepare their meals when they wanted to eat. Staff knew how to support people to eat well and develop the skills needed towards independence. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet peoples need.

People’s consent was sought before care was delivered. Where people lacked capacity to make certain decisions; decisions were made in consultation with people who were important to them and made in their best interests.

People were treated with kindness and compassion by staff who knew them well. People were given time and explanations to help them make choices. We saw that people’s privacy and dignity was respected and people were called by their preferred name.

People received personalised care and were confident that staff supported them in the way they wanted to be supported. Staff knew people’s likes and dislikes and care records reflected how people wanted to be supported and how care was provided.

People knew how to make complaints and they felt that the staff and registered manager were approachable. Complaints were managed in line with the provider’s complaints procedure and people were informed of any investigation and actions.

Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and provider. Regular quality checks were completed people could comment on the quality of service provision. Where necessary, improvements were made to the service.