Background to this inspection
Updated
20 September 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
44 Broad Green Avenue, also known as ‘Conifers,’ is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider is required to send us about significant events that happen at the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection-
During the inspection we spoke with three people who used the service, two members of staff, the registered manager and a senior manager. We looked at two people’s care plans, two staff files and other records relating to the management of the service including policies and procedures.
Updated
20 September 2019
About the service
44 Broad Green Avenue, also known as ‘Conifers,’ is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to four people with learning disabilities in one adapted building at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six 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 told us they were happy living at 44 Broad Green Avenue. Most risks to people’s safety were assessed and managed well, although some hot water outlets were running at unsafe temperatures. The registered manager told us they would address this. We also found there was not always enough information about when to administer certain medicines. Other aspects of medicines management were safe. There were systems in place to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough staff to support people safely and the provider had robust recruitment processes to help ensure they were suitable for the role.
People received care in line with national best practice guidance. Staff received the training and support they needed to help them provide this. People received the support they needed to maintain their health and wellbeing, including a healthy balanced diet. The provider had considered how the home environment could be adapted to meet people’s needs.
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.
Staff were compassionate and caring and people felt respected and valued as a result. People were able to develop strong relationships with staff, who got to know people well and promoted equality and diversity in care. Staff enabled people to make choices about their care on a daily basis and the home had a culture that promoted dignity and independence.
People received personalised care that took into account their needs, preferences and backgrounds, including their preferences around end of life care. They received support to engage in activities and maintain social relationships. However, people’s written care plans did not contain sufficient detail for staff unfamiliar with them to provide personalised care that met their preferences, although this was not having a significant impact on people at the time of the inspection.
We have made a recommendation about developing person-centred care plans.
People received information in a variety of accessible formats. There was an appropriate complaints procedure in place.
The service had a person-centred culture that supported people to understand their rights and express their views. The provider used various tools to monitor the quality of the service including collecting and acting on people’s feedback. People were involved in the running and development of the service. People felt the registered manager was open and approachable and managed the service well.
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 requires improvement (published 28 November 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the new provider’s date of registration.
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.