Background to this inspection
Updated
14 December 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was 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.
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on the 15 November 2017. Due to the small size of the service the inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR before the inspection to check if there were any specific areas we needed to focus on. The PIR did not show any evidence of risk at this location.
During the inspection we were unable to speak to anyone at length because of their communication needs. Instead, we observed the care and support being provided by staff. We obtained feedback from three relative’s following the inspection.
As part of the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff. We looked at a range of records about people’s care and how the home was managed. We looked at two care plans, medication administration records, risk assessments, accident and incident records, complaints records and internal and external audits that had been completed. We also looked at four staff recruitment files.
Updated
14 December 2017
56 Oakwood Road provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with a learning disability. People's accommodation is arranged over two floors. There were six people living at the home on the day of our inspection.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager assisted us during our inspection.
At our last inspection in August 2016 we found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We asked the provider to take action in relation to consent and good governance. Following that inspection the provider submitted an action plan to us to tell us how they planned to address these concerns. We carried out this inspection to check if the provider had made the changes required. We found that improvements had been made in all areas and the regulations were now being met.
Staff were following the legal requirements to make sure that any decisions made or restrictions to people were done in the person’s best interests. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Quality assurance audits were carried out to help ensure the care provided was of a standard people should expect. Any areas identified as needing improvement were made by staff. If an emergency occurred, such as a fire, people would be evacuated following guidance in place for staff.
People lived in an environment that was hygienic, free from infection and suitable for their needs. People were cared for by staff who knew them well and had developed relationships with them. People were spoken to in a respectful way and encouraged to do things for themselves or spend their time as they wished. Staff supported people to eat a good range of foods and staff ensured that those with a specific dietary requirement received their food in an appropriate way.
People had access to external health services and professional involvement was sought by staff when appropriate to help maintain good health. Medicines were stored appropriately and recording of medicines was completed to show people had received the medicines they required.
People were encouraged to take part in activities and staff were consistently thinking of new ways to keep people stimulated. We found support plans were person-centred and staff reviewed these regularly. There were a sufficient number of staff on duty to enable people to either stay indoors or go out to their individual activities. Staff recognised people’s individuality and as such provided new ways of ensuring people’s needs were met.
Staff met with their line manager on a one to one basis and staff said they felt supported. Staff received a good range of training. Staff met together regularly as a team to discuss all aspects of the home. People had support from an individual keyworker whose role was to help someone work towards their goals and to ensure the person received the most appropriate care for their needs.
Risks to people’s safety were identified and control measures were in place to minimise the risk of harm. Staff recorded all accidents and incidents and took relevant action to minimise the risk of them happening again. Staff were knowledgeable about their responsibilities to keep people safe and were aware of reporting procedures should they suspect potential abuse. Appropriate checks were carried out to help ensure only suitable staff worked in the home.
A complaints procedure was available for any concerns. This was given to people in a format that was easy for people to understand. People, their relatives and external stakeholders were encouraged to feed back their views and ideas into the running of the home.
Although the registered manager also managed another of provider’s services, we found they had good management oversight of the home. Staff said the registered manager was supportive and there was a good culture within the team. We saw the registered manager was very hands on. The registered manager was aware of their statutory duties in relation to their registration with CQC.