15 April 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection was carried out on 15 April 2015 and was unannounced. At our last inspection on 12 June 2013, we found the provider was meeting the regulations in relation to outcomes we inspected.
118 Widmore Road provides a respite accommodation service for up to 12 people with learning disabilities at any one time. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care and support to six people.
There was a registered manager in place. 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 using the service said they felt safe and that staff treated them well. Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work. Safeguarding adult’s procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported from abuse. There was a whistle-blowing procedure available and staff said they would use it if they needed to. People’s medicines were managed appropriately and people received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.
Staff had completed training specific to the needs of people using the service and they received regular supervision. The manager had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Although no one at the service was subject to DoLS, the manager and the provider were assessing people’s needs to see if any DoLS applications needed to be made. People were provided with sufficient amounts of nutritional food and drink to meet their needs. People had access to a GP and other health care professionals when needed.
Assessments were undertaken to identify people’s support needs before they started using the service. People using the service and their relatives had been consulted about their or their relatives care and support needs. Care plans and risk assessments provided clear information and guidance for staff on how to support people to meet their needs. People were encouraged to maintain their normal routines and activities whilst staying at the service. People were aware of the complaints procedure and said they were confident their complaints would be fully investigated and action taken if necessary.
The provider sought the views of people using the service through surveys. They recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service provided to people. Staff said they enjoyed working at the service and they received good support from the manager. There was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available when they needed it.