Archived: 137 Bills Lane

Updated 12 November 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.

The inspection took place on 8 October 2015 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

As part of our inspection we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). 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. Our inspection visit confirmed the information contained within the PIR.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. We looked at information received from relatives and external bodies and the statutory notifications the manager had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.

We spoke with one person who lived at the home, and observed the support provided to another person who had limited verbal communication. We did not have the opportunity to meet the third person who lived at 137 Bills Lane.

We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and four staff members. After our visit, we spoke by phone to a relative of a person who lived at the home. We reviewed one person’s care plan and daily records to see how their support was planned and delivered. We reviewed records of the checks the staff and management team made to assure themselves people received a quality service.

Updated 12 November 2015

This inspection took place on 8 October 2015. 137 Bills Lane provides care and accommodation for up to four people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The communal areas and one of the bedrooms was on the ground floor. The rest of the bedrooms were on the first floor. Three people lived at the service at the time of our visit.

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.

There were sufficient staff to meet the needs of people, and to support people, who wanted to engage in activities outside the home. Staff received regular training, and new staff, were provided with a thorough induction to help them understand people’s needs and how to support people effectively.

Staff had received training in keeping people safe and understood their responsibility to report any observed or suspected abuse. Where risks associated with people’s health and wellbeing had been identified, there were plans to manage those risks. Risk assessments ensured people could continue to enjoy activities as safely as possible, access the community and maintain their independence.

Staff had received training to understand the Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where people’s freedom was restricted, the provider had applied to have this authorised by the local authority. This meant they complied with the DoLS legislation.

Staff were observed to be kind and considerate to people. They managed and supported people who had behaviours which challenged others, well.

People received a nutritious and balanced diet, and were involved in menu choices. People were referred to external healthcare professionals to ensure their health and wellbeing was maintained. Medicines were managed so that people received their medication as prescribed.

The leadership team had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and provided good support to staff and the people who lived at the home.