Archived: Laburnums

Laburnums is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 9 people who have a learning disability. There were six people receiving a service on the day of our inspection, including one person who was in hospital.

A registered manager was 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.

Improvements were noted to the management of risks both for individual people and to the environment so as to ensure people’s safety. This included the safety of the premises and equipment used. Equipment such as that relating to fire or moving and handling equipment had been tested and checked to ensure it was safe and in good working order.

Systems to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were being effectively implemented. Regular checks were being completed by the staff, the registered manager and the provider’s representative to ensure action was taken where needed to improve the service.

Staff were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it to safeguard people. Recruitment procedures were thorough. Risk management plans were in place to support people to have as much independence as possible while keeping them safe. There were also processes in place to manage risks in relation to the running of the service.

Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs. People had support to access healthcare professionals and services. People had choices of food and drinks that supported their nutritional or health care needs and their personal preferences.

People were supported by skilled staff who knew them well and were available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and they found the staff to be friendly and caring. People were supported to participate in social activities including community based outings.

Staff used their training effectively to support people. The manager understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff were aware of their role in relation to MCA and DoLS and how to support people so as to ensure their rights were respected and met.

Care records were regularly reviewed and showed that the person had been involved in the planning of their care. They included people’s preferences and individual needs so that staff had clear information on how to give people the support that they needed. People told us that they received the care they required.

The service was well led; people living and working in the service knew the registered manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. Their views were listened to and actions were taken in response. The provider and registered manager had comprehensive systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided and to put actions in place to improve it.

We saw that the service had good infection control policies, procedures and practices. Staff followed the Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. The environment was clean and tidy and generally well maintained. The provider needs to make improvements in their response to repairs as the home has been without an assisted bath since July 2013. Further repair work is needed in the same bathroom as we found broken, cracked tiles around the bath and flaking paint on the window ledge.

There were sufficient numbers of qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's health, safety and welfare needs. People's concerns, complaints and comments were listened to and acted upon effectively. People received safe, effective and compassionate care from a well led service that responds quickly to their changing needs.