4 July 2017
During a routine inspection
Step Down provides accommodation and personal care without nursing for up to eight persons who may have learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection three people were 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.
Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff that had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.
People were safeguarded from the potential risk of harm and their freedoms protected. Staff were provided with training in Safeguarding Adults and Children from abuse, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager was up-to-date with the law regarding DoLS and knew how to make a referral if required.
People had sufficient amounts to eat and drink to ensure that their dietary and nutrition needs were met. The service worked well with other professionals to ensure that people's health needs were met. People's care records showed that, where appropriate, support and guidance was sought from health care professionals, including GPs and social workers.
Staff were attentive to people's needs. Staff were able to demonstrate that they knew people well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.
People were provided with the opportunity to participate in activities which interested them. These activities were diverse to meet people’s social needs. People knew how to make a complaint and complaints had been resolved efficiently and quickly.
The service had a number of ways of gathering people’s views including talking with people, relatives, staff, and other health professionals. The registered manager carried out a number of quality monitoring audits to help ensure the service was running effectively and to make continual improvements.