Archived: Thomas Road

This announced inspection took place on 23 June 2016. There were three people receiving care at that time.

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. The registered manager was fully aware of his legal responsibilities in relation to his registration and management of the service.

Staff were only employed after the provider had carried out comprehensive and satisfactory pre-employment checks. People experienced a good quality of life because staff were well trained and well supported by the provider and registered manager. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s assessed needs. Systems were in place to ensure people’s safety was effectively managed. There were effective procedures for reporting concerns and of how to protect people from harm.

People received their prescribed medicines appropriately. People’s health, care and support needs were effectively met by a sufficient number of skilled staff. People were provided with a balanced diet and staff were aware of and met people’s dietary needs.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. We found that there were formal systems in place to assess people’s capacity for decision making and applications had been made to the authorising agencies for people who needed these safeguards. Staff respected people choices and staff were aware of the key legal requirements of the MCA and DoLS.

People received person centred care and support from staff who were kind, caring and friendly and patient. Staff supported people to develop and maintain meaningful relationships. People had opportunities to comment on the service provided. People were supported to be involved in all decisions about their lives.

Care records provided staff with sufficient guidance to ensure each person received consistent, individualised care. People’s care was kept under review to their needs were consistently met. People were meaningfully occupied and were provided with opportunities to engage in a range of different activities and pastimes. Staff supported people to have new experiences. People were supported to be members of the local community.

The registered manager was supported by a staff team that including a deputy manager and support workers. The service was well run. Staff including the registered manager, were professional and approachable. People and their visitors were encouraged to provide continuous feedback on the service both formally and informally. People’s views were listened to and acted on.

People were protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and dehydration. All three people we spoke with agreed they had full involvement in meal preparation and were able to select and choose meals they enjoyed whilst maintaining a healthy diet.

The provider had taken steps to provide care to people in an environment that was suitably designed and adequately maintained for them. The premises were in good condition and appropriate maintenance checks and modifications had been made when necessary.

Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work and there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place to ensure that only the right people were employed to look after vulnerable adults. People who used the service were involved in the recruitment process.

People who used the service and the staff were asked for their views about their care and treatment and these were acted on by staff. Policies and procedures were in place to assist in service review and development.

People said that they enjoyed how they spent their days. This included going shopping; cooking; going to church, where they could have a hot drink and biscuit; helping with domestic duties around their home and going out for a social drink.

Procedures were in place to protect people who used the service from the risk of abuse. These included safely managing their personal monies and supporting them to raise their concerns, if needed. Members of staff were trained and knowledgeable regarding protecting people from the risk of abuse.

Members of staff were trained and supervised to safely do their job, which they said they enjoyed. People who used the service indicated that they got on well with members of staff.

Quality assurance systems were in place to ensure that people who used the service were safe. These quality assurance systems also enabled people who used the service, their family members and visitors to the care home, to offer their views about the standard and quality of the support and care provided at Thomas Road.