Worting Road (The Whispers)

Updated 18 July 2018

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 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.

This was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 26 June 2018. The inspection was unannounced and carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service which included notifications they had sent us. Notifications are sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to inform us of events relating to the service which they must inform us of by law. We also looked at previous inspection reports. We did not request a Provider Information Return (PIR) for this inspection. The PIR 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.

Some of the people who live at Worting Road (The Whispers) were unable to speak with us and express their views. However, one person was able to talk with us and shared their experience of living at the service. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, the operations manager, a senior support worker and a support worker. In addition we spoke with a visiting professional. We observed care and support being provided in the communal areas of the service, we saw people having lunch during the inspection and preparing for the evening meal. We watched the administration of medicines at lunch time. We looked at records relating to the management of the service including four people’s support plans and associated records and four staff files including recruitment records. We reviewed a selection of policies, the safeguarding log, and accident/incident records. We looked at handover and communication documentation, minutes of meetings, service audits and health and safety records. Following the inspection visit we spoke with one relative and contacted another to gain feedback. A further professional was also contacted.

Updated 18 July 2018

Worting Road (The Whispers) is a 'care home'. It is a detached property, providing accommodation over two floors and has a secure rear garden. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 is registered to provide accommodation and support to eight people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our visit, there were eight people using the service.

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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service was last inspected in August 2016. At that inspection, we found a breach Regulation 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This was because the provider had not ensured that mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were recorded when people were unable to make decisions about managing their finances and medicines. At this inspection we found the required improvements had been made to meet the requirements of the regulation.

At the inspection carried out in August 2016 we rated the service as good overall. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were protected from the risk of abuse by staff who had the knowledge and skills to identify safeguarding concerns and act on them. Risks to people's health and well-being had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise the risks. Regular checks were made regarding the safety of the premises and the provider had plans in place to manage foreseeable emergencies. Medicines were managed and administered safely.

People benefitted from receiving support from a staff team who were well supported and had been trained in the skills necessary to fulfil their role. Staff monitored people's physical and emotional wellbeing and ensured support was in place to meet their individual needs. When necessary, staff contacted health and social care professionals for guidance and support. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People’s nutrition and hydration was monitored and staff supported them to have a varied diet.

Staff interacted with people in a kind and caring manner. They involved people in choices around their daily living. People's independence was promoted and people were encouraged to be involved in the service. People were relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff, they did not hesitate to seek support and assistance when required. People were respected and their privacy and dignity were maintained. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends and relatives told us they were made welcome whenever they visited.

People's support plans were person centred and contained detailed information specific to each individual, including people's likes, dislikes, cultural and spiritual preferences. People had opportunities to take part in activities of their choice and follow their hobbies and interests. The provider made people and their relatives aware of how a complaint may be raised.

The registered manager had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. People, their relatives and staff had opportunities to feedback their views on the quality of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below