Archived: Gillitts Road

Updated 29 July 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 inspection was unannounced and took place on 27 and 29 June 2016 and was carried out by one inspector.

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. We received the completed document prior to our visit and reviewed the content to help focus our planning and determine what areas we needed to look at during our inspection.

We looked at other information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also looked at information we had received from commissioners involved in reviewing the care of people using the service.

The people using the service had complex communication needs and were unable to directly communicate with us. We therefore made general observations on how the staff interacted and supported them. During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, one senior member of staff, one team leader and two care workers. We also spoke with two relatives of people using the service.

We reviewed the care plans and associated care records relating to four people using the service and looked at records relating to the management of the service including quality audits. We also looked at staff training, supervisions and appraisal records held at the service and visited the organisations human resources department to review the staff recruitment files for four staff employed at the service.

Updated 29 July 2016

This inspection took place on 27 and 29 June 2016 and was unannounced. Gillitts Road is a residential care home registered to care for up to 12 people with a learning disability and autism. The service is situated in the suburbs of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

The service comprises of two five-bedroom homes, 'Beige House' and 'Green House', and 'The Flat', a two-bedroom apartment created to promote independent living skills. At the time of our inspection nine people were using the service.

The service had 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 using the service had complex communication needs and were unable to directly tell us if they felt safe from abuse. General observations made on the day of the inspection and feedback from relatives indicated that people were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were aware of what constituted abuse and of their responsibilities to report abuse.

Risks to people using the service and others were assessed, and appropriate measures were in place to manage identified risks.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s current needs. The staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. Staff training and on-going training was provided to ensure staff had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their duties. Staff supervision systems ensured that all staff received support through one to one and team meetings to discuss their learning and development needs and the needs of the service.

People received their medication safely and the systems to receive, store and administer medicines were appropriately maintained.

Staff knew how to protect people who lacked the capacity to make decisions. Policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were followed appropriately.

People’s nutritional needs had been assessed and they were supported to make choices about their food and drink. Their physical and mental health was closely monitored and appropriate referrals to health professionals were made.

Staff showed care and compassion when supporting people and ensured that privacy and dignity was respected at all times. Advocacy services were available for people to access, should they need them.

People using the service and their representatives were involved in making choices about their care, which was based upon their individual needs and wishes. The care plans reflected people’s current needs and they were regularly reviewed and updated. Staff supported people to follow their choice of leisure, educational and recreational activities and people had regular access to the local and wider community to reduce the risk of social isolation.

Systems were in place to receive and handle complaints and management governance systems were in place to regularly monitor the quality and safety of the service.