North Ormesby Road

Updated 22 November 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 29 October 2018. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of our inspection because people live in a small supported living scheme and we needed to be sure someone would be available to assist us with the inspection. Inspection activity started on 29 October 2018 and ended on 2 November 2018. It included telephone calls to people, their relatives and staff. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection, we looked at information we held about the service. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information we held about the service, such as notifications we had received from the registered manager. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We contacted the commissioners of the relevant local authorities, the local authority safeguarding team and other professionals who worked with the service to gain their views of the care provided by North Ormesby Road.

During the inspection we spoke with three people who receive personal care from the service and two relatives of people using the service. We looked at three plans of support and three people’s medicine records. We spoke with six members of staff, including the registered manager, a manager due to have the service handed over to them on a temporary basis and four recovery workers who support people with their mental health recovery. We looked at four staff files, which included recruitment records. We also reviewed a range of records involved with the day to day running and quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 22 November 2018

This inspection took place on 29 October and was unannounced. North Ormesby Road provides specialist mental health services for people with a focus on recovery. People who use the service live in self-contained flats in central Middlesbrough close by local shops, community and leisure facilities. The service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. At the time of our inspection seven people were living at North Ormesby Road, three of whom received support with personal care.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. 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 ongoing 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.

There was a registered manager in post. We received positive feedback about the leadership and management of the service. Staff told us they received the training and support they required to give them the skills and knowledge they needed for their role. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Recruitment policies minimised the risk of unsuitable staff being employed.

Risk assessments were in place to help reduce risks to people. The service also had a range of environmental risk assessments. Staff knew how to safeguard vulnerable adults. They were aware of the action they should take if they had any concerns. The service had systems in place to ensure people were supported with managing their medicines. Health and safety checks were carried out in relation to the communal areas of the premises.

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 supported this practice. People were encouraged to join in with group activities and events but if they chose not to do so this was respected.

People were supported to maintain their health and access healthcare services when needed. Support plans contained clear information about people’s healthcare needs. People’s independence was promoted. Staff encouraged people to maintain and develop their daily living skills in preparation for them moving on to a more independent living situation. Staff respected people’s rights and maintained their privacy. People told us staff were caring. People’s diverse needs were understood and respected.

Support was planned and delivered based upon people’s support needs and preferences. Support plans were up to date and were regularly reviewed. Staff knew the people they were supporting well.

The service had good links with the local community. People accessed a range of community and leisure facilities.

People and their relatives told us they knew how to complain if it was needed. A quality assurance system in place to monitor the quality of the service and make improvements where required.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.