Byways provides accommodation and personal care for eight people. People who live at the home have a learning disability. There were seven people accommodated at the time of the inspection. This was an unannounced inspection, which meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting. This inspector took place on the 10 December 2015.There was a manager in post. They had submitted an application to the Care Quality Commission to become registered. 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 were encouraged and supported to lead active lifestyles in their home and the local community. They had opportunities to take part in a variety of activities including going on an annual holiday. Two staff were employed with the specific role of supporting people with activities and they worked alongside the care staff.
People were protected from the risk of abuse because there were clear procedures in place to recognise and respond to abuse and staff had been trained in how to follow these procedures. Systems were in place to ensure people were safe. These included risk management, checks on the environment and safe recruitment processes.
People’s rights were upheld and they were involved in decisions about their care and support. Where decisions were more complex these had been discussed with relatives and other health care professionals to ensure it was in the person’s best interest. Staff were knowledgeable about legislation to protect people in relation to making decisions and safeguards in respect of deprivation of liberty.
Sufficient staff supported the people living at the service. Staff had received appropriate training to support the people living at Byways. Staff were supported in their role and received regular supervisions. Supervisions are where a member of staff meets with a senior manager to discuss their role, performance and training needs.
People had a care plan that described how they wanted to be supported. These were regularly reviewed. Care was effective and responsive to people’s changing needs. People had access to healthcare professionals when they became unwell or required specialist equipment. Feedback from health and social care professionals was positive in respect of the staff’s approach to people and delivery of care.
Systems were in place to ensure that any complaints were responded to. People’s views were sought through an annual survey that was completed by a representative from Milestones Trust. The new manager was exploring how people’s views could be sought more effectively and they recognised this was not always easy for people who communicate using non-verbal communication. Staff used a variety of methods to communicate with people including using visual aids such as objects and photographs.
The staff, the manager and a representative from Milestones Trust completed regular checks on the systems that were in operation in the home to ensure they were effective.
People were provided with a safe, effective, caring and responsive service that was well led. The organisation’s values and philosophy were clearly explained to staff.