We carried out a review of the data available to us about Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk, you can give feedback on this service.
Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk is a care home providing respite care for up to four people with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. At the time of the inspection one person was using the service.
People's experience of using this service:
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. We saw that people were given choices in their everyday lives and their independence and personal development was well supported and participation within the local community was very actively encouraged. The service had gone to great lengths to get find out what people wanted out of life and to take steps to achieve that.
Staff were aware of people's life history and their preferences. They used this information to develop positive relationships and deliver person centred care. People told us staff were kind, their friends and they felt well cared for.
Staff assessed and reviewed people's physical, mental health and social needs and updated care plans when changes happened. Records confirmed people's choices were always considered and they and/or their representatives had been fully involved in deciding on their care.
Risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and described potential risks and the safeguards in place. The provider had safeguarding systems to protect people from the risk of abuse and staff had received training on this and knew what action to take
There were sufficient numbers of suitably trained and experienced staff available to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals to support their practice.
The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure. Relevant checks were carried out when staff were employed to help make sure they were suitable to work in the home.
People were supported to receive their medicines correctly by staff who had received training and had competency checks before undertaking this task. Staff worked with other agencies and health professionals to support people to receive the treatment and support they needed
The home was clean and maintained and suitable environmental adjustments had been made for the people who used the service. Appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out and advice sought from appropriate agencies. Staff had received training in infection control.
The registered provider had procedures in place for assessing a person's mental capacity in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us they enjoyed the meals provided and their dietary needs and choices had been catered for. Information on people’s nutritional and hydration needs was clearly stated in their care plans.
People's social and emotional needs were considered as part of the overall service. The staff helped people staying in the home to maintain their friendships and independence and encouraged them to care for themselves where possible and make their own daily choices. Advocacy services were available if needed
Complaints were managed in line with the service’s procedures and records confirmed the outcomes of the concerns. People told us what they would do if they had any concerns. Staff felt supported by the management team and were comfortable raising any concerns.
The provider had systems to assess and monitor quality and people told us they were asked for their views about the support they received. The staff completed audits within the home to support quality monitoring.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection the service was rated good. (Published 2 November 2016).
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up:
The service will be re-inspected as per our inspection programme. We will continue to monitor any information we receive about the service. The inspection may be brought forward if any risks are identified.
Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk was last inspected by CQC on 28 May 2014 and was compliant with the regulations in force at that time.
Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk provides respite care and accommodation for up to four people with learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were two people staying at the home however there were 22 people who used the service in total.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
Risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and described potential risks and the safeguards in place. However, a falls risk assessment tool had not been completed for one person to show the level of risk.
Staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed.
The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service and appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The registered provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and training sessions were planned for any due or overdue refresher training. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals.
The registered provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and was following the requirements in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs.
Family members were complimentary about the standard of care at Short Breaks - 8 Broadlands Walk. Staff helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.
Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person centred way. Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs.
People who used the service, and family members, were aware of how to make a complaint however there had been no formal complaints recorded at the service.
Staff felt supported by the management team and were comfortable raising any concerns. Family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service. Family members said the management team were approachable and understanding.
Some policies and procedures were out of date however this was being addressed by the registered provider.
Is the service caring?
Is the service responsive?
Is the service safe?
Is the service effective?
Is the service well led?
During the inspection we spoke with two people who used the service, two relatives and two care staff. On the day of the inspection the registered manager of the home was not present so we spoke with the assistant network manager. Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, their relatives, the staff supporting them and from looking at records.
Is the service caring?
We spoke with two people who used the service who both told us they liked staying at the home and they were treated well and in the way that they wanted. We also spoke with two relatives who told us they were happy with the care and support the staff provided to their family member. Some comments included; "It's a really good service." And, I'm very happy with it.' We saw staff were patient and kind when engaging with people at the home. One staff member told us; 'I'm proud of the care given to people who come here because they're happy and the families are happy.' Our observations and the comments from people we spoke with showed us that people were treated with empathy and dignity by the staff.
Is the service safe?
The people that we spoke with us told us they felt safe.
On the day of our inspection we spoke with staff who were knowledgeable of the procedures to take if they were concerned that people were at risk of harm and abuse. We noted an incident had been reported to a person's social worker but this had not been notified to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). As it is a requirement that certain events are notified to the CQC, we discussed this with the assistant network manager who assured us this was an oversight. Following the inspection we received written assurance of this. We saw there were regular checks in place to minimise the risk of harm and abuse. For example we saw that checks were carried out to ensure people's money remained safe. This showed us the home had systems in place to minimise the risk of financial abuse.
The Care Quality Commission has a duty to monitor activity under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure vulnerable people over the age of 18 have their human and civil rights upheld. Care home providers must make an application to the local authority when it is in a person's best interests to deprive them of their liberty in order to keep them safe from harm. At the time of our inspection there were no applications in place.
Is the service effective?
We saw people who stayed at Short Breaks had care records which included assessments of their individual needs and risks. Each person had a care plan which contained information for care staff to enable care and treatment to be delivered in a way that met people's needs. This was person centred and contained information important to the person such as personal preferences and dislikes. This showed us the service consulted with people to ensure the documentation staff used to deliver care was reflective of their wishes and choices. We also saw each person's care records contained risk assessments to identify and manage any risks identified. We noted one care record identified a risk, but did not contain any instruction on how the risk was to be managed. We discussed this with the assistant network manager who amended the record during the inspection.
Is the service responsive?
The service had systems in place to ensure people were regularly consulted about their views and ideas on how the service should be run. This was done by means of regular discussions with people, satisfaction surveys and coffee mornings. We saw that if improvements were identified, these were actioned as appropriate. We spoke with two relatives who told us the home sought their views and that they were happy with the level of involvement offered to them. The records we viewed and the comments from people we spoke with showed us the home responded to suggestions and comments from people and gave feedback to people who used the service.
Is the service well led?
The service had systems in place to ensure areas for improvement were identified. We saw quality audits were carried out to check the information contained in the persons care records remained up to date and accurate. We also saw cleanliness and medication audits were carried out. We noted any shortfalls were identified and action taken as appropriate. Staff told us and we saw documentation which demonstrated staff received ongoing supervision and appraisals from their manager. This allowed staff to discuss any concerns, seek feedback regarding their performance and identify training needs. We saw action was taken to support staff if needs were noted. Comments from staff, relatives, and documentation we viewed showed us that the service was well led.
Short Breaks ' 8 Broadlands Walk had suitable arrangements in place for obtaining and acting in accordance with, the consent of people who used the service. We found people who used the service experienced effective, safe and appropriate care and support that met their needs and protected their rights.
People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. There were effective infection control procedures in place.
People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink and were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs.
Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.
People's personal records including medical records were accurate and fit for purpose. Records were kept securely and overall could be located promptly when needed.