Archived: Bunbury Road

Bunbury Road is a respite service offering accommodation and support for a maximum of five female service users with mental health support needs. At the time of our inspection, three people were using the service. There was a registered manager in place who was present during our inspection. 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.

This inspection was prompted in part by information of concern shared with us by the local authority. This was in relation to the provider’s poor and delayed response to an allegation of sexual abuse. We ensured this information was shared with relevant partner agencies such as the police and as a result this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident. However, this information and our inspection findings identified concerns around how incidents and safeguarding matters were responded to. Although two people we met told us they felt safe and safeguarding training was being refreshed, systems did not protect people using the service from abuse because incidents had not been fully investigated. Actions had not been taken as a result such as referrals to relevant partner agencies as required.

We identified breaches of the regulations because risks and incidents were not appropriately recorded or responded to in order to protect people and ensure the safety of the service. Quality assurance processes did not always effectively monitor and improve the safety of the service. Planned improvements had not always been made or processes followed as planned. Some findings reflected a positive and person-centred culture including the approach of staff and the service project lead’s ongoing improvement plans.

Although one person told us they were happy with their medicines support, some issues identified at our last inspection had still not been fully addressed to ensure people received their medicines safely. People told us they had felt more settled over their time at the service due to improved health. People’s needs were monitored and referred to community health teams by staff as needed. Systems were in place to support safe recruitment practice.

Incidents and risks were not routinely discussed with staff, records relating to people’s support were not always accurate and staff meetings were not held as often as planned. This did not help promote learning or develop staff skills and knowledge for their roles. Staff had not received all mandatory training and this was still underway since the last inspection. People were satisfied with the support of staff and described their improved health and wellbeing. People were supported to make choices with their meals and with accessing other healthcare services as needed.

People told us staff were kind and caring. Their feedback showed they valued the approach of staff. People had the privacy they needed and their independence was promoted. Systems were in place to involve people in their support plans and monitor their wellbeing. One person told us they felt able to complain and this was encouraged during residents’ meetings.

You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of this report.

Bunbury Road is a respite service offering accommodation and support for a maximum of five people with mental health support needs. At the time of our inspection, there were three people using the service. There was a registered manager in place who was present during our inspection. 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 we spoke with told us that they felt safe using the service. Staff we spoke with were aware of people’s support needs and contacted people’s community health teams if they identified any risks or concerns. Staff we spoke with were aware of safeguarding procedures and were undergoing training in this area.

People were protected by safe recruitment practices at the service. People told us that they were happy with the support they received from staff to manage their medicines. We found however that people’s medicines records were not always accurate and staff had not received training in this area to ensure safe and consistent practice. Staff took appropriate action if they had concerns about how people managed their medicines.

People told us that staff understood their needs well and staff we spoke with demonstrated awareness of the support people required. Staff told us that they received supervision and records showed that staff were undertaking training to further develop their knowledge in their roles.

People made their own decisions about their activities and routines, this was respected and encouraged by staff. People were supported to prepare meals and to seek healthcare support as and when necessary. People attended care reviews that were held at the service with staff and community healthcare teams.

People told us that staff were supportive and caring. People had the privacy they needed and staff demonstrated how they treated people with care and respect.

People were able to share feedback about the service and were provided with information to help them to become familiar with the service and local area. People were able to raise concerns and complaints at the service, the registered manager told us that no complaints had been received.

People spoke positively about the service and staff told us they felt supported in their roles. Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were not always applied effectively. The registered manager had recognised some areas of improvement that we had identified during our visit and described ways that they intended to drive improvement at the service.