29 June 2017
During a routine inspection
The home 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. The registered manager was not present for our inspection.
Woodland View is a six bedroomed purpose-built bungalow providing personal care for adults with learning disabilities. The home does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection six people were using the service.
There were systems and processes in place for the safe management of medicines. Staff were trained and had their competency to administer medicines checked on a regular basis. Medicine administration records (MAR’s) were completed correctly with no gaps or anomalies.
We asked what information was available to support staff handling medicines to be given ‘as required’. Although as required medicines were documented on the MAR there wasn’t a separate protocol that provided staff with the additional guidance needed to support the administration of these medicines. In addition the temperature of the room in which medicines were stored was not taken and recorded to ensure that medicines were stored within the recommended temperature ranges. The manager contacted us after the inspection and informed us they had taken immediate action to address our findings.
Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place. Risks to people were identified and plans were put in place to help manage the risk and minimise them occurring. Appropriate checks of the building and maintenance systems had taken place to ensure health and safety was maintained.
There were sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff were available to provide one to one support and with visits out in the community. We found that safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. Staff told us they felt well supported and received regular supervision and an annual appraisal.
Staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted in the best interests of people they supported. Staff clearly understood their role in supporting people with communication to help them make as many of their own decisions as possible. Staff told us about people’s care preferences, which were also recorded in their care plans. However, at the time of the inspection, processes had not been followed to formally record this. Information was supplied to us after the inspection to confirm that this process had commenced. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
The majority of staff were up to date with their training and any gaps in training had been identified and addressed by the manager.
People were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink, which helped to ensure that their nutritional needs were met. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare professionals and services.
There were positive interactions between people and staff. We saw staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff were kind, caring and interacted well with people. Observation of the staff showed that they knew the people very well and could anticipate their needs.
Activities, outings and social occasions were organised for people who used the service.
Care plans detailed people’s needs and preferences and were personalised . Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they contained up to date information to meet people’s care needs. The service had a clear process for handling complaints.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and felt supported by the manager. Quality assurance processes were in place and regularly carried out by the manager and support co-ordinator to monitor and improve the quality of the service.