Archived: College Road Care Home Also known as SFI Care Home

College Road is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care to three people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Safeguarding procedures were in place, which staff were aware of. We also saw staff had been recruited safely. There were enough staff deployed to keep people safe. Risks to people had been identified, assessed and reviewed. There were measures to reduce risk. We observed good practice in relation to the management of medicines.

People’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life. People’s needs had been assessed before they used the service. They received care that was informed by reputable national guidance. Their assessments considered individual requirements and preferences. Staff received training, professional development, supervision and appraisal to enable them to carry out their duties. People’s care records showed relevant health and social care professionals were involved in their care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people were unable to make decisions about their care and support, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.

The service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. People had access to support and care regardless of their individual circumstances. People were from different cultural and religious backgrounds and the service understood and addressed their needs. Their likes and dislikes had been recorded in their support plans. People’s privacy was promoted, including the way information was handled. Staff maintained people's independence by supporting them to manage as many aspects of their care as they could.

The service met people’s needs. People received person centred care. People’s care plans outlined their abilities, and the support required to ensure they had control, choice, and independence. People who displayed behaviours that challenged had specific care plans outlining what this meant to them and how it affected them. People’s communication needs had been considered, which ensured they lived meaningful life through increased involvement, choice and independence.

There was a complaints procedure in place, which people’s relatives were aware of. Quality assurance processes such as audits, accidents and incidents, were used to drive improvements.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 6 April 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

College Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission [CQC] regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. College Road Care Home is a care home that provides care, support and accommodation for up to three people with learning disabilities.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 was the first comprehensive inspection of College Road Care Home since it was re-registered under the provider, Striving For Independence Care Limited in November 2016. Prior to this the service had been inspected in April 2016 under the previous provider, Striving for Independence Homes LLP, at which time it was rated “Good”.

People who used the service had various risk assessments and risk management plans, which ensured they were protected from harm in relation to their care. Appropriate policies and procedures ensured people were safe from abuse and harm.

Sufficient staff were deployed to support people. Staff employed were appropriately checked to ensure they were suitable to work with people who used the service.

Medicines were managed safely and people who used the service received their medicines on time.

Staff had access to a variety of training, which helped them to update and maintain their skills and knowledge in relation to providing care to people. Regular supervisions and appraisals were provided to review staff performance and set learning objectives for the future.

People had choice of a nutritious, healthy and well balanced diet. The service ensured that people’s health was monitored and if required external health care support was sought.

CQC monitors the application of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS). The MCA 2005 was appropriately applied and DOLS applications had been properly made.

People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and families. Staff were kind, caring and respectful towards the people they supported. They had a clear understanding of people's individual needs, preferences and routines.

People’s care and support was carefully planned in advance and the service ensured people were involved in this process.

There was a complaint policy and procedure available and confidentiality was maintained.

People were supported to participate in activities, interests and hobbies of their choice. We saw that independence was promoted.

There were effective quality assurance processes in place to monitor care. There were systems in place to share information and seek people’s view about the running of the home.