16 Homeside Close

Updated 4 December 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

16 Homeside Close is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this 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

This inspection was announced.

We gave a short period notice of the inspection because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. For example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. Due to technical problems, we were unable to access the Provider Information Return that the provider had submitted to us prior to inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service. We observed interactions between staff and people to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, head of regulated services and four care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and associated medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with three relatives of people who use the service. We requested feedback from six community professionals and received one response.

Updated 4 December 2019

About the service

16 Homeside Close is a adapted residential building which delivers personal care and support for up to eight people who have learning disabilities and associated conditions. At the time of inspection the service was supporting eight people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults. Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were managed effectively. People were supported by a sufficient number of staff who knew them and their support needs.

Checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) were undertaken. The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable people. The provider had not always sought evidence of satisfactory conduct for a staff member who was previously employed in health and social care roles. However, the provider had a robust supervisory and induction process to monitor performance, which reduced the risks regarding lack of satisfactory conduct from previous employment. The registered manager introduced a risk assessment following our inspection for any staff recruited where they could not get evidence of satisfactory conduct.

People’s medicines were managed in a safe way. There were safe systems in place to help ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff received training on infection control and were provided with personal protective equipment such as disposable aprons and gloves. We have made a recommendation the registered provider takes appropriate action in line with guidance and best practice to prevent the risk of infection relating to water hygiene management.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to support people safely. People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and their preferences were considered when arranging their care. The service worked with other agencies to achieve good outcomes for people, who were supported to access healthcare services and support appropriately.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

People were well treated and supported to engage in activities that were meaningful to them. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. Confidential information about people was stored securely.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. People were provided with information in a way they could understand which helped them make decisions about their care. There were effective systems in place to deal appropriately with complaints.

People were at the heart of the service. The registered manager and staff were passionate and continuously strived to achieve good, positive outcomes for people. Systems were operated effectively to maintain the quality and safety of the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (report published 20 November 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.