23 June 2015
During a routine inspection
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 23 June 2015. At the last inspection in October 2013, we found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected.
Standford House is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 12 people with a learning disability across three buildings on one site. At the time of this inspection there were five people living in the recently opened purpose built home, who required different levels of support. The registered manager no longer worked at the home. A new manager was in post and had applied to become registered with us. They were on annual leave when we visited. The operations manager therefore assisted with the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 told us they felt safe living at the home and staff knew how to protect people against the risk of abuse or harm and how to report any concerns. There were enough staff to support people at the time of the inspection although some people commented staffing was stretched at times given people’s individual support needs, particularly when out in the community. People received their medicines as prescribed.
Staff had received training and were knowledgeable about people’s care and support needs. We saw that care and support was provided with patience and kindness. People were supported to make their own decisions and choices by staff who understood and promoted people’s rights and worked in their best interests. People were supported to maintain their health through regular appointments with healthcare professionals.
People told us they liked the staff. We saw people had developed positive working relationships with the staff who supported them. People looked relaxed in the company of the people they lived with and the staff on duty. People were treated as individuals by staff who knew them well. Staff shared examples of how they respected people's privacy and dignity and we saw this in practice during the inspection.
People's needs were assessed and their support plans provided staff with clear guidance about how they wanted their individual needs met. Staff were able to tell us how people preferred their care and support to be delivered. People participated in a range of activities and were regularly supported to access facilities and amenities in the local community that reflected their individual interests and preferences. People knew who to speak with if they had any concerns.
The manager had submitted an application to be registered with CQC. We saw the provider assessed and monitored the quality of the service but we found there was some scope for improvement. Audits and questionnaires were used to obtain people’s views on the service provided in addition to regular key worker meetings and meetings held with staff. Most people told us they found the manager approachable.