Little Arches

Updated 31 December 2019

The inspection

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.

Inspection team

The inspection consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Little Arches 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

We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service, including notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. We considered information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service to gain their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records, including; people's care records and medicine records. We looked at two 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.

Updated 31 December 2019

About the service

Little Arches provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with a learning disability. At the time of our visit four people were using the service.

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 were protected from abuse. Staff understood how to recognise and report any concerns they had about people's safety and well-being. The provider followed safe recruitment processes to ensure the right people were employed. Staff training included a thorough induction and ongoing training to ensure staff had the knowledge and skills they required to meet people's needs. There was enough staff to keep people safe. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were assessed and mitigated. People's medicines were managed safely. The home was clean and staff followed procedures to prevent the spread of infections.

People received food and drink of their choice. When required, people were supported to access healthcare professionals and receive ongoing healthcare support. People were supported to share their views and shape the future of the care they received.

Care plans provided staff with the information they required to meet people's needs in a person centred way. People could choose how they wanted to spend their time. Various activities were offered to people. People were supported to receive end of life care in the way that they wanted and met their individual 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. Policies and procedures in the service supported this practice.

The quality assurance system in place to monitor the service provided to people was robust and capable of identifying areas for improvement. People made positive comments about the registered manager.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 21 June 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the service at the last inspection.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.