79 Malmesbury Road

Updated 15 June 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 was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of our inspection because the service provides a service to adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure somebody would be in. Part of the inspection was carried out by two inspectors because two of the provider’s homes were being inspected at the same time. This meant we could look at some areas collectively because they would be the same for both homes and would provide consistency when collecting evidence.

Prior to the inspection we looked at information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

Before the inspection, we had asked the provider to complete 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 planned to make. We reviewed the information included in the PIR and used it to assist in our planning of the inspection.

During our visit we met and spent time with all five people living in the home and we spoke individually with three. Two relatives called the home whilst we were inspecting and we spoke with both. The service worked closely with various health and social care professionals and, we have considered and referred to the information we received from those that visit the service.

We spent time with the provider, registered manager and spoke with three staff. We looked at three people's care records, together with other records relating to their care and the running of the service. This included four staff employment records, policies and procedures, audits and quality assurance reports.

Updated 15 June 2018

This inspection took place on 26 and 27 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. We did this to ensure people and key staff would be available at the service. The service provides accommodation and support for up to five people with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs. There were 5 people living in the home at the time of this inspection.

At our last we rated the service outstanding. At this inspection we found evidence continued to support the rating of outstanding and because of this the report is in a shorter format.

There was 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. The provider had a very ‘hands on’, active approach and presence within the service, with people who lived at the home, relatives, the local public and staff. He was constantly referred to us with praise and always by his first name. For the purpose of the report we will refer to him as the provider.

The views of people were sought in a way that was informal, relaxed and tailored to their individual needs. This demonstrated a person centred ethos and creativity and, ensured any barriers to effective communication were overcome. They used a sensitive approach that respected people's cultural backgrounds and mental health needs. We found during our visit that spending time with people and talking about things important to them, was an approach they were more familiar and comfortable with and enabled us to assess their experience of the service more effectively than asking more direct questions. Staff supported this and introduced us to everyone individually and explained why we were visiting.

People very were confident in their surroundings and with each other. The atmosphere was buoyant and people were excited to welcome us into their home and share their experiences. Staff were knowledgeable about everyone they supported and it was evident they had built up relationships based on trust and respect for each other. People experienced a lifestyle that met their individual expectations, capacity and preferences. There was an ethos of empowering people wherever possible and providing facilities where independence would be encouraged and celebrated.

Everyone involved in this inspection demonstrated a genuine passion for the roles they performed and individual responsibilities. They wanted to ensure that those living at the service felt safe and valued. Staff embraced new initiatives with the support of the provider, registered manager and colleagues. They continued to look at the needs of people who used the service and ways to improve these so that people felt empowered to make positive changes.

The care 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.”