Archived: Victoria Road

Updated 18 January 2019

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type:

Victoria Road is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during our inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 13 December 2018.

What we did:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since our last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about by law. We also assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once a year to give some key information about the service such as what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We contacted the local authority about information they held about the provider. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

We spoke to two people who told us about their experiences of using the service. Some of the people living in the home did not want to talk to us as we were strangers to the home, but we saw how staff supported people throughout the inspection to help us understand peoples’ experiences of living at the home.

We also spoke with three support workers, the deputy manager and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records including two people’s care records, medication records and two staff files. We also reviewed records relating to the management of the home including checks and audits.

Updated 18 January 2019

People’s experience of using this service:

The provider was not consistently following current law and guidance in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005). For example, they had made applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) for people who had capacity to consent to their treatment and had not notified us of the outcomes for DoLS applications as they are required to do.

The views of people, staff and relatives were consistently sought and used to inform the development and improvement of the service. Audits and checks were very effective in identifying gaps in practice and then improving these issues . People and staff were happy with the way the service was led and managed.

The premises enabled people to enjoy their own space and practice independent living skills. People used healthcare services when they needed to. Staff received training relevant for the people’s needs.

There were high levels of staffing which meant people received sufficient support for trips to the community and what they wanted to do during the day. Staff managed risks to people and people received their medication when they needed it.

Staff treated people with kindness and were patient in their approach. People were supported to maintain and develop their independence and had the privacy of having their own flats.

People’s needs and routines had been assessed and planned for. Staff support was arranged in a way so that individual routines and preferences could be met. People knew how to complain and felt confident that any concerns would be listened to and acted on.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good (10 December 2015).

About the service:

Victoria Road is a residential care home that provides personal care for people with learning disabilities, autism and/or mental health difficulties. At the time of the inspection there were four people using the service.

The home is a large house which has been divided into individual flats. Each flat has its own kitchen and bathroom.

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

Further details about the service can be found in the full report.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection to check that this service remained Good.

Enforcement:

No enforcement action was required.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. If we receive any information of concern, we may inspect sooner.