Background to this inspection
Updated
26 April 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) 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 Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: One inspector carried out this inspection.
Service and service type: Ruby house is a supported living service registered to provide personal care to people in their own home. The service is situated in Bushey and provides 24-hour care and support to people who live in their own bedsits.
On the day of our inspection five people were using the service.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. [The registered manager was not available at the time of the inspection]. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection: This inspection was unannounced.
What we did: We visited Ruby house on 03 April 2019 and spent time speaking with staff and the operations manager. On the 9 April we spoke to people who used the service. We also visited the providers head office to review a range of records including staff recruitment files and training, care records and quality monitoring documents.
Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held in relation to the service. We also reviewed all information received from external sources such as the local authority and professionals with experience of the service.
During the inspection we:
• We spoke with two people who used the service, we received feedback from two professionals, two relatives, two care staff, the deputy manager and the operations manager.
• We reviewed two care records including risk assessments.
• We reviewed two staff recruitment files including. We looked at documents in relation to supervisions, and training records.
• We looked at a range of quality assurance records, including recording of accidents, incidents and complaints.
• Policies and procedures relating to the quality and safety of the service.
• Audits, surveys and minutes of staff meetings.
Following the inspection, we received further information from the operations manager to demonstrate compliance with the regulations.
Updated
26 April 2019
About the service: Ruby House provides support to people living in their own bedsits within one building. The service supports younger adults, with a learning disability and or mental health conditions.
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.
People’s experience of using the service: People and their relatives were positive about the care and support they received.
People received care which met their individual assessed needs. Care records included detailed information including how they wished to be supported. People were involved in their care planning.
Staff were committed to providing person centred care, supporting people to maintain their independence. People were kept safe and staff respected their privacy and dignity.
People were supported to take positive risks and were protected from harm and abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and how to support people to be safe.
Staff recruitment procedures were robust and included a range of pre-employment checks.
Staff told us they were well supported, received adequate training, supervision and competency assessments to enable them carry out their job roles effectively.
People were supported to access a range of healthcare professionals. Staff worked in partnership with healthcare professionals to ensure that people received holistic support.
People’s consent was obtained, choices were respected, and people were supported in line with the Mental Capacity Act.
People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was maintained.
People were positive about the management of the service. Feedback was requested and used to help drive continual improvement.
The management team had worked hard to make the improvements required since the last inspection.
Rating at last inspection: Requires improvement (report published 21 May 2018)
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. During this inspection we found evidence that the service had improved from an overall rating of requires improvement since the previous inspection to support the rating of good at this inspection. More information is in the full report.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.