Nickling Place

Updated 28 February 2020

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: The inspection was carried out by one inspector over two days.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had five homes in two separate towns in Oxfordshire. People’s homes had been adapted to meet their needs and they had access to local amenities and transport. Each supported living address had a separate office and communal area where people could meet up if they wished.

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 28 January 2020 and ended on 29 January 2020. We visited the office location on both dates.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with the Care Quality Commission. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager and two support workers. We also spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 28 February 2020

About the service

Nickling Place is a supported living service providing personal care to people living independently in their own flats in Bicester and Banbury. The service supports people who have physical disabilities including acquired brain injuries. At the time of our inspection the service supported 10 people who each had their own purpose built flat in a single storey building.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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

People felt safe and were protected by staff who knew how to report concerns relating to harm and abuse. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. There were improved systems in place to monitor accidents and incidents.

Medicines were managed safely. People were supported in line with their care plans which meant risks to people were effectively managed.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager. The registered manager had arranged specific training to enhance staff skills and knowledge. People were supported to shop and prepare their meals; individual dietary needs were met and people were encouraged to eat healthily. People were supported to access health and social care professionals when needed.

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.

Everyone was positive about the care and kindness from staff. People’s independence was optimised and their privacy respected.

People enjoyed a range of activities. People knew how to make complaints and complaints and these were dealt with effectively.

The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities and a sound overview of the service. Regular auditing took place to inform where improvements may be required.

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

Rating at last inspection: This service was registered with us on 07/01/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection in line with our inspection methodology.

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.