Archived: Cregg Na Ba

Updated 30 November 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 2 October 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by two inspectors.

The service was last inspected on 9 July 2015 and was rated ‘Good’ in all areas.

Before the inspection, we checked the information held regarding the service and provider. This included previous inspection reports and any statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. We also reviewed the Provider Information report. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make.

On the day of inspection we observed five people that use the service in their day to day activities. People were not able to communicate their experiences verbally to us; therefore we spent time observing care and used the short observational framework for inspection (SOFI). This is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. The Registered Manager was absent on the day; however a Registered Manager from another service with the same provider was present. We spoke with three staff and a visiting health care professional. We spent time reviewing records, which included three care plans, two staff files, two medication administration records, staff rotas and training records. Other documentation that related to the management of the service such as policies and procedures, complaints, compliments, accidents and incidents were viewed. We also ‘pathway tracked’ the care for some people living at the service. This is where we check that the care detailed in individual plans matches the experience of the person receiving care.

Following inspection we talked to two relatives of people that use the service. We also spoke with another health care professional who has had reoccurring involvement in supporting people who lived at Cregg Na Ba.

Updated 30 November 2017

Cregg Na Ba provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people who have learning disabilities and some associated physical or/and sensory disabilities. There were five people using the service at the time of inspection, ranging from 50-85 years of age. Some people are wheelchair user’s and required support with all of their personal care.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good and met all the fundamental standards we inspect against.

People were safe. Staff had a clear understanding on how to safeguard people and protect their health and well-being. People had a range of individualised risk assessments to keep them safe and to help them maintain their independence. Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to manage the risks. Staff were aware of people's needs and followed guidance to keep them safe. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to ensure peoples safety.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

Although the registered manager was absent on the day of inspection, we were joined by a manager from another location under the same provider.

The Manager who was supporting the service on inspection and staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and applied its principles in their work. Where people were thought to lack capacity to make certain decisions, assessments had been completed in line with the principles of MCA. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be deprived of their liberty for their own safety.

Staff received a wide range of training to ensure they could support people safely and received support to carry out their roles effectively. People felt supported by competent staff that benefitted from regular meetings with their line manager and team meetings to help them meet the needs of the people they cared for. People's nutritional needs were met. People were given choices and were supported to have their meals when they needed them. People received care that was personalised to meet their needs. People were supported to maintain their health and were referred for specialist advice as required. There were good systems that ensured safe transitioning between services. Staff knew the people they cared for and what was important to them. Staff appreciated people's life histories and understood how these could influence the way people wanted to be cared for. Staff supported and encouraged people to engage with a variety of social activities of their choice in house and in the community. Staff treated people with kindness, compassion and respect and promoted people's independence and right to privacy.

The service looked for ways to continually improve the quality of the service. Feedback was sought from people and their relatives and used to improve the care. People knew how to make a complaint and complaints were managed in accordance with the provider's complaints policy. Leadership within the service was open, transparent and promoted strong staff values. This had resulted in a caring culture that put the people they supported at its centre.

People, their relatives and staff were complimentary about the management team and how the service was run. The registered manager informed us of all notifiable incidents. Staff spoke positively about the management support and leadership they received from the management team.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.