We carried out a review of the data available to us about Short Breaks - 7 Edlington 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 - 7 Edlington Walk, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
On arrival visitors were asked to wash and sanitise their hands, put on personal protective equipment (PPE), show a negative lateral flow test and provide proof of a vaccination status prior to entering the home.
Staff had access to supplies of PPE and had received training to ensure they used this correctly. All staff and people accessing the service had regular testing for COVID-19. All staff had received their vaccinations.
The provider had assessed the impact of how PPE may cause fear and anxiety for residents and also assessed the type of PPE required for specific groups to enable lip reading for example.
The home was clean throughout with effective systems in place to promote good hygiene practices.
The home manager sought support and advice from external agencies, where required, including the local health protection team.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Short Breaks - 7 Edlington Walk, (Edlington Walk), is a residential care home that provides respite care for up to five people who have a learning disability and/or autism. There was one person using the service at the time of our inspection.
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 that 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 using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe and protected from abuse. Risks to people’s safety were well managed to protect them without limiting their choices about their lives. There were enough staff to support people. People received their medicines as they needed. The home was clean and people were protected from infection.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
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.
The staff were trained and skilled to support people. People were provided with meals and drinks they enjoyed. The registered manager assessed the support people required and people received good care that met their needs. People were supported to access healthcare services as they needed to maintain good health.
The service worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and people’s rights were protected. 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.
The staff treated people in a kind and caring way. People were supported to gain independence and skills of daily living. The staff asked people for their views about the care they received. People were provided with care that met their religious, cultural, physical and emotional needs.
People were included in planning their care and support. People followed activities they enjoyed including activities they attended when in their own homes. They were supported to keep in contact with their friends and families while staying for respite. The provider had a procedure for responding to complaints about the service.
The registered manager encouraged people who used the service and their families to be included in developing the service. The registered manager was very experienced and aware of her responsibilities. She and the staff were committed to providing people with high-quality, person-centred care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was good (report published 4 November 2016).
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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Short Breaks - 7 Edlington Walk was last inspected by CQC on 17 February 2014 and was compliant with the regulations in force at that time.
Short Breaks - 7 Edlington Walk provides respite care and accommodation for up to five people with learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection no-one was staying at the home however there were 29 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.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet the needs of the people who used the service. An appropriate recruitment and selection procedure was in place and relevant checks were carried out on new staff.
Risks to people’s safety in the event of a fire had been identified and managed and appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out.
Management and staff were aware of their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and described potential risks and the safeguards in place.
Appropriate arrangements were in place for the administration and storage of medicines and procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed.
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).
Staff were aware of people’s individual nutritional needs and supported people regarding their diet.
Family members were complimentary about the standard of care at Short Breaks – 7 Edlington 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. People continued to visit day services while staying at Short Breaks – 7 Edlington Walk and other activities were arranged based on people’s likes and 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.
The service had a positive culture that was person centred, open and inclusive. Family members said the management team were approachable and understanding. Staff felt supported by the registered manager and the management team.
Some policies and procedures were out of date however this was being addressed by the registered provider.
The care plans were person centred and focused on opportunities to increase the service user's independence. A person who stays at the home told us 'I can go to the shops on my own or I can ask someone to go with me.'
We found the home to be very clean and the people who lived there were encouraged and supported to help clean their rooms and help with their laundry where possible.
The home was maintained to a reasonable standard and all relevant safety checks such as a firesafety check had been carried out.
Staff appeared to be very happy working at the home. We were told that there was always plenty of training and staff felt trained to carry out their job. One person who worked there said 'I am able to identify any extra training I may require to help me with my job.'
Relatives expressed a lot of confidence in the staff and felt they had no problems at all and had no issues or concerns. They advised they had various contact numbers and if needed could use them to raise issues. They told us they have regular chats with the staff and could always discuss 'anything' with them.
The service had various information about 7 Edlington Walk including a 'welcome booklet'; the 'service user guide'; 'statement of purpose' and the 'complaints procedure' which were stored within the service. These documents contained a lot of information for anyone who was thinking of using the service for a 'Short break' and they have been adapted with the use of pictures to help present information in an easier style to understand. This information helped to keep people informed about the service and the support provided.