Archived: Sunningdale

Updated 29 June 2016

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 is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

One adult social care inspector and one specialist advisor carried out this inspection on 15 and 29 February 2016. The first day was unannounced which meant the registered provider and staff did not know we would be visiting the service. They knew we would be returning on our second day of inspection. The specialist advisor in this inspection had significant experience of working with young people in mental health.

Before the inspection we reviewed all of the information we held about the service, such as notifications we had received from the service and also spoke with the local authority who informed us there was no contract in place with the service. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send us within the required timescale. We also spoke with the commissioning officer from the local authority commissioning team about the service.

The registered provider was asked to complete a provider information return (PIR) which they completed. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During this inspection, we spoke with one person who used the service and we spoke with a social worker and a youth offending team officer. We also spoke with the nominated individual, registered manager, deputy manager and four members of care staff.

We reviewed three care records, two of which were people using the service and one of which from a person who had recently stopped using the service. We also reviewed staff records and records which related to the day to day running of the service.

Updated 29 June 2016

This inspection took place on 15 and 29 February 2016. The first day of this inspection was unannounced; the registered provider knew we would be returning on the second day of our inspection.

Sunningdale is a supported living service for people aged between 17 and 24 who have left residential care. The service aims to equip people with the knowledge and skills needed to live independently. At the time of our inspection there were two people using the service.

Sunningdale is a new service which had been running for less than one year. The was an experienced and stable staff team in place. There registered manager had been in place since the service opened. 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.

There were risks to the safe care and treatment of people because accidents and incidents had not always been recorded. Some risk assessments which were needed had not been put in place and regular fire drills had not been carried out.

There was no evidence to suggest that staff had completed a thorough induction programme. Staff supervision had not been carried out in line with the service’s own policy.

There were gaps in care records and records relating to recruitment and the day to day running of the service. Records did not show if people were routinely involve in decision making.

Records did not show if complaints had been dealt with appropriately. Responses to complaints did not always address all of the key points and some responses to complaints were misleading.

On the first day of inspection, areas of the building potentially hazardous to people were accessible. On the second day of inspection, action had been taken and we were not able to enter areas where building work was being carried out.

Safeguarding alerts had been made and staff demonstrated competency in their knowledge of different types of abuse and the action they needed to take. All staff spoken with told us they wouldn’t hesitate to whistle blow [tell someone].

CQC had not been notified of all safeguarding alerts and incidents which had occurred at the service between 06 September 2015 and 29 February 2016. This will be dealt with outside of this inspection process.

Records did not show if people were always involved in decision making. However people told us they had choice about their care.

Care plans were in place however some gaps were identified.

Staff meetings had taken place. There was no evidence in place to show that people’s views had been sought prior to our inspection.

Each person had a personal emergency evacuation plan in place. This meant appropriate action could be taken by emergency teams.

Procedures were in place to recruitment new staff. There were enough staff on duty to provide care and support to people. Staffing levels and shift patterns were changed to meet the needs of people.

Staff supported people to order, collect and take their prescribed medicines. Staff encouraged people to seek regular support from their GP. People had regular support and involvement from a range of health and social care professionals. This contact was documented in people’s care records.

Certificates relating the health and safety of the service were up to date.

Staff had been supported to undertake a range of mandatory training and training specific to the needs of the people they provided care and support to.

Staff supported people with their nutrition and hydration which included menu planning, shopping and the preparation of food. Staff demonstrated the action they needed to take if people were at risk of malnutrition or dehydration.

People spoke positively about staff and the support which they received. We could see that staff were genuinely concerned about people’s well-being.

Staff supported people to maintain their own privacy and dignity.

Staff told us the service aimed to develop people’s confidence and independence by providing support with life skills with the aim of people moving into the local community.

The staff team in place told us they enjoyed working at the service and were committed to their role. They told us they felt supported by the registered manager.

We found three breaches in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to record keeping, notifications, supervision and appraisals, complaints, risk assessment, fire drills and accidents and incidents. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.