05 May 2015
During a routine inspection
We carried out this inspection on 5 May 2015 and it was an announced inspection. This was the first inspection the service had had by Care Quality Commission, since opening in August 2014.
Dorothy House was registered on 14 August 2014. It is a new support service from Autism Plus for adults and young people with autism and learning disabilities. Based in Barnsley, it offers residential living/respite (short term care) for up to five people at one time and a support service for people living in the community. People who use the respite service or the support service are able to access the facilities at Dorothy House. The service offers tailored support packages along with en-suite bedrooms, activity rooms, a large kitchen and an outdoor space. On the day of our inspection, there was one person using the support service at Dorothy House and no one using the respite service.
It is a condition of registration with the Care Quality Commission that the service has a registered manager in place. 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. The registered manager was present on the day of our inspection.
People and their relatives told us they felt the service was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. Comments included; “It’s great here. They look after me well.” “[The service] listen to what I say and more importantly, listen to what [family member, who used the service] says about the care they want”, “The staff are great. They’ve really helped [person who used the service] to build up confidence.” And “[The registered manager] is great. So approachable.”
People were protected from abuse and the service followed adequate and effective safeguarding procedures. Care records were personalised and contained relevant information for staff to provide person-centred care and support.
There were issues with repair and maintenance of the service. The registered manager and managing director told us they would contact the landlord of the property to discuss repairs that were outside of their remit, as tenants. However, there were also issues with the décor at the service.
We found good practice in relation to decision making processes at the service, in line with the Mental Capacity code of practice, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Formal staff supervision had been carried out on a regular basis and annual appraisals had been completed yearly. Staff were up to date with their training requirements.
There were good, regular quality-monitoring systems carried out at the service. We saw that, where issues had been identified, the registered manager had taken (or was taking) steps to address and resolve them.
During our inspection, we found one breach of Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.