Mediline Supported Living Bacup

Bacup Street 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.

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.

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 our last inspection in December 2015 we rated the service as good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated good.

People enjoyed living at Bacup Street and one person we talked with told us they felt safe. We saw recent complimentary feedback written in the visitor’s book. Positive interactions between the people at the service and staff were observed during our inspection.

People’s health and nutritional needs were met by the service, although we identified that staff were not always following guidelines put in place by other health professionals. We brought this to the registered manager’s attention.

Medicines continued to be stored correctly and administered as prescribed, although one medication administration record (MAR) did not reflect the current regime of administration for one medicine. The medicine was being administered correctly. The temperature of the room where medicines were stored was not being taken. The registered manager told us this would be addressed.

Staff received the training and support, through supervisions and team meetings, to effectively meet people’s needs. Annual observations of staff competencies were completed.

A safe system for recruiting new staff was in place. The number of staff on duty varied depending on people’s needs and the regular activities people planned to participate in during the week.

Person centred care plans and risk assessments were in place to guide staff on the support people needed and how to reduce any identified risks. Where applicable, care plans were in place to support specific health conditions, for example epilepsy and dysphagia.

Information about people’s preferences, culture, likes and dislikes was recorded. A description of people’s preferred daily routines was held on their support plans.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People told us the food was good and the menus showed that people were offered variety and choice of meals.

At this inspection all equipment was maintained and serviced in line with national guidelines. The service was well maintained and clean throughout. Emergency evacuation plans were in place for each person in their care files.

The registered manager had an auditing system in place to monitor the quality of the service. All incidents and accidents were reviewed to reduce the likelihood of a re-occurrence. Other quality checks and audits were carried out at the service by managers of other services, independent of Bacup Street.

People were consulted about the service and the provider had recently held an open day, attended by people living at Bacup Street. Surveys were used to gain feedback from people, their relatives, staff and other professionals about the service.

This inspection was unannounced however prior arrangements were made with the regional office to look at staff recruitment and training files.

Bacup Street is registered to provide care and support for up to three adults with a learning disability and / or a mental health problem. The home is a purpose-built bungalow situated within a residential area of Manchester. The bungalow accommodation comprises of single occupancy bedrooms and spacious communal areas including a lounge, kitchen and bathrooms. At the time of our inspection the home was fully occupied.

A registered manager was in post at the time of this inspection and was present throughout the whole of the inspection. They told us they were also covering another local service in the absence of the registered manager who was off on planned leave.

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.

Staff ratios were sufficient to meet the needs of the people living in the home. People were able to access the community with support and pursue their own interests.

We found robust recruitment processes were in place to ensure the right people were recruited to the posts of support worker. Staff accessed mandatory training during their induction along with other relevant specialist training for their role.

Accident and incident reporting mechanisms were in place and the on call manager was always informed following an accident or incident as per company policy. The administration and management of medicines was safe. There were appropriate controls and procedures in place to manage and prevent the spread of infections and the registered manager was the nominated infection control champion.

Staff had completed training on the Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and there was evidence that best interest meetings were taking place.

Staff were able to tell us about the different preferences of individuals and recognised the importance of this in order to provide person-centred care. We heard people being asked for their consent before support workers carried out their duties.

Staff had good relationships with people living in the home and treated them with dignity and respect. Staff were always friendly, patient and polite in their interactions with people.

Support plans were person-centred and contained relevant assessments of risk tailored to individual’s specific needs. Support plans were up to date and contained sufficient detail to enable staff to meet people’s care and support needs.

Personal goals had been identified for individuals and these had been reviewed after a six month time frame. Staff encouraged people to be actively involved in their local community and those that wanted to go out were supported to do this.

People were given choices by staff and staff respected their decisions. There was a mechanism in place for people to raise a concern or complaint in the form of a complaints policy. The service also produced a “how to share your compliments, comments, concerns or complaints” leaflet and this contained easy-read symbols and simple language.

The service was well led and feedback from both staff and professionals was positive when asked about the registered manager.

Quality assurance systems were in place and audits were carried out by another registered manager who was independent of the home. We saw that where improvements could be made any actions identified were followed up by the management of the home.

We spoke with two relatives during the inspection. They said they were very happy with the care provided. They told us they were always kept informed about their relative's care needs and staff called their relative's GP promptly if they are unwell. They described the staff as 'friendly and professional'. One of the relatives said, 'I am extremely happy with the care my relative is getting'. Another person told us, 'I'm happy with everything. I am always kept informed about what's going on and am invited to care plan reviews when they take place.'

People's emotional, physical and social care needs were well met and staff reported the staffing levels were good which meant the people who used the service received the care and support they needed.

Staff consulted with health care professionals to ensure people's physical health care needs were met. A range of social activities were provided both in the community and within the home. This meant people's emotional and social care needs were met.

Staff were trained on how to safeguard people from abuse and harm and knew to report any signs or the suspicion of abuse to a senior member of staff.