Background to this inspection
Updated
9 March 2015
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 inspection took place on 12th and 16th December 2014 and was unannounced.
A single inspector carried out this inspection.
We spent some time observing care in the dining room and lounge to help us understand the experience of people who used the service. We looked at all areas of the home including people’s bedrooms, communal bathrooms and lounge. We spent some time looking at documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the home. We looked at four people’s support plans and spoke with five people who used the service.
Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the home and the provider.
On the day of our inspection, we spoke with five people who used the service, five members of staff, the registered manager, the operations manager and two relatives.
Updated
9 March 2015
This inspection took place on 12th and 16th December 2014 and was unannounced.
During our last inspection on 19th November 2013 the provider had met all the legal requirements. .
Flambard Road is a care home for people with learning disabilities. It can accommodate up to seven people. During the day of our inspection the home had no vacancies. People living at Flambard Road have a learning disability; Some people are able to communicate verbally, while others communicate by pointing, nodding, facial expressions and gestures.
The service has a registered manager. 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 told us they felt safe in the home and we saw there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm.
We found people were cared for, or supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work.
Medicines were managed safely and staff received training in the safe administration of medicines.
The Registered Manager had been trained to understand when a standard application of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) should be made, and in how to submit one. We found the location to be meeting the requirements of the DoLS. They exist to protect the rights of people who lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions about their own wellbeing. Services should only deprive someone of their liberty when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them, and it should be done in a safe and correct way.
Suitable arrangements were in place and people were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met.
People’s physical health was monitored as required. This included the monitoring of people’s health conditions and symptoms so appropriate referrals to health professionals could be made.
People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. The care plans contained information setting out exactly how each person should be supported to ensure their needs were met. Care and support was tailored to meet people’s individual needs and staff knew people well. The support plans included risk assessments. We observed staff having good relationships with the people living at the home and the atmosphere was happy and relaxed.
We observed interactions between staff and people living in the home and staff were kind and respectful to people when they were supporting them. Staff were aware of the values of the service and knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity. People were supported to attend meetings where they could express their views about the home.
A wide range of activities were provided both in-house and in the community. We saw people were involved and consulted about all aspects of the service including what improvements they would like to see and suggestions for activities. Staff told us people were encouraged to maintain contact with friends and family.
The manager investigated and responded to people’s complaints, according to the provider’s complaints procedure. People we spoke with did not raise any complaints or concerns about living at the home.
There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. We saw copies of reports produced by the registered manager which included action planning. Staff were supported to challenge when they felt there could be improvements and there was an open and honest culture in the home.