We carried out a review of the data available to us about Roman Park 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 Roman Park, you can give feedback on this service.
Roman Park is a residential care home providing personal care and support to people with a learning disability at the time of the inspection.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 14 people. 12 people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their families were very positive about the care and support provided at the service. Relatives spoke of positive relationships between staff and people who used the service. One relative said, “They are like family here.”
People were cared for by trained staff who knew how to protect them and keep them safe from harm. Appropriate numbers of staff were available to meet people’s needs and people told us staff were always accessible. People received their medicines in a timely way and systems were in place to safely manage medicines. Accidents and Incidents were investigated fully with actions taken to avoid recurrence. The home was clean and tidy. Staff followed infection control procedures.
Care plans were complete and current. Care was delivered in a way that met good practice guidance and current legislation. Staff were well-trained and knew the specific needs and preferences of people living there. People had a variety of food choices each day and were complimentary of the quality of the food. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were caring towards the people using the service. The service had a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Staff were observed to work with people in a kind and patient manner that promoted their dignity. People using the service told us they felt they had a voice and felt respected by staff and management. Family members of people using the service told us they felt listened to, were always welcome and were actively involved in the lives of their loved ones.
Staff were responsive to people’s specific needs and preferences. All staff had extensive knowledge about people using the service. One person told us, ‘ I like [staff member] because they know what I like and don’t like.’ Staff assisted people to pursue their desired outcomes at a pace suited to them. People could choose activities they enjoyed. A visiting professional told us, ‘Everyone is doing something when I visit, it has a nice vibe.’ People whose conditions changed were promptly referred for medical reviews.
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, pursue their interests and become more independent.
The registered manager was referred to as ‘friendly’ and ‘like family’ by people using the service. Family members of people using the service told us the registered manager was approachable and acted quickly on any issues they might present. The registered manager had quality assurance systems in place to monitor service delivery and quality. The management team of this service has been stable for many years and this was reflected in a low staff turnover rate. Staff praised the leadership of the registered manager for creating a positive environment for them and for people using the service.
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 (published 23 February 2017)
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.
Roman Park provides accommodation and support for up to 14 people who have mental health needs, learning difficulties or autistic spectrum disorders. On the day of our inspection there were 12 people living at the service.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
People told us they felt safe living at Roman Park. Relatives we spoke with told us that their relations were safe living there. The staff team knew their responsibilities for keeping people safe from avoidable harm and knew what to do if they were concerned about anyone.
People’s care and support needs had been identified and the associated risks had been assessed and managed. Where risks had been identified these had, where ever possible, been minimised to better protect people’s health and welfare.
Plans of care had been developed for each person using the service and the staff team knew the needs of the people they were supporting well.
People felt there were currently enough members of staff on duty each day because their care and support needs were being met.
Recruitment checks had been carried out when new members of staff had been employed. This was to check that they were suitable to work at the service. The staff team had received relevant training and on-going support through supervisions and appraisals had been provided by the management team.
People received their medicines as prescribed and in a safe way. Medicines were being appropriately stored and the necessary records were being kept. There were appropriate systems in place to audit the management of medicines.
People's nutritional and dietary requirements had been identified. People had been nvolved in the development of the menus that were in place and these catered for their individual needs and preferences.
People were supported to maintain good health. They had access to relevant healthcare services such as doctors, opticians and community nurses and they received on going healthcare support.
The staff team involved people in making day to day decisions about their care and support and they understood their responsibilities with regard to gaining people’s consent.
The people using the service and the relatives we spoke with told us that the staff team knew them well and knew what help and support they needed. They told us that the staff team were friendly, kind and caring and observations during our visit confirmed this.
Systems were in place to gather the views of the people using the service. Monthly meetings had been held and these provided everyone with an opportunity to be involved in how the service was run.
People using the service knew what to do if they were worried about anything. A formal complaints process was in place and people were regularly reminded of this so that they could be supported if they needed to use it.
Staff members we spoke with felt supported by the registered manager. They told us that they had the opportunity to meet with a member of the management team on a one to one basis to discuss their progress. They also told us that there was always someone available for support and advice should they need it.
There were systems in place to regularly monitor the quality and safety of the service being provided. Audits on the documentation held had been completed and checks on the environment and on the equipment used to maintain people's safety had been carried out. A business continuity plan was available for the staff team to follow in the event of an emergency or untoward event.
The registered manager and the management team were aware of their registration responsibilities including notifying CQC of significant incidents that occurred at the service.