117-119 Mollands Lane

Updated 24 January 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 comprehensive inspection took place on the 7 November 2017 and was announced. We gave short notice of the inspection because the location is a small care home and people living at the service are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service including statutory notifications we had received about the service and information from the local authority. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send us. We also reviewed a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR 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.

During our inspection we spoke with three people, three members of staff, the registered manager and the regional business manager. We looked at a range of documents and written records including two people's care plans, risk assessments and daily records of care and support. We also looked at records which showed how the service was managed, reviewed staffing records, quality assurance information and minutes from staff and resident meetings.

Updated 24 January 2018

The inspection took place on 7 November 2017 and was announced.

117-119 Mollands Lane is a ‘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.

117-119 Mollands Lane accommodates up to six people in one adapted building who may have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The service does not provide nursing care. On the day of our inspection five people were living at the service.

The 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.

The service requires and did have 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.

At the last inspection, the service was rated ‘Good’ in all five domains. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.

The service was safe. There were enough staff to help keep people safe, meet their needs and protect them from harm and abuse. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed. There were safe systems in place for receiving, administering and disposing of medicines.

The service was effective. People were supported by staff that had the skills and experience needed to provide effective care. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced diet and to access health and social care services when required.

The service was caring. Staff knew people very well and were kind and sensitive to their needs. Staff were observed providing very good personalised care and it was evident they clearly knew people well and understood their individual needs. Staff ensured people’s privacy and dignity was respected and maintained at all times.

The service was responsive. People were involved in the planning and review of their care and support needs. There was a strong emphasis on person centred care. Care plans were regularly reviewed and people were supported to plan their support to ensure they received a service that was based on their personal needs and wishes. People were encouraged and supported by staff to pursue their interests and hobbies and activities were tailored around people’s likes, choices and abilities.

The service was well-led. The registered manager demonstrated strong values and commitment to learn and implement best practice, ensuring people had a good quality of life. Staff were highly motivated and proud to work at the service. There were systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service provided and people living and working in the service had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.