44 Newbold Road

Updated 26 November 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

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

44 Newbold Road 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 three working days notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this 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. We gave the provider the opportunity to share with us information during the inspection. We reviewed any notifications we had received and any feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service. We spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager. We also spoke with one visiting social care professional.

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

After the inspection

We sought further information and feedback from health and social care professionals who regularly visited the home.

Updated 26 November 2019

About the service

44 Newbold Road is a small residential home providing personal care to younger adults, with autism, and/or learning disabilities. 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.

The service was based in a large house which currently supported two people with an additional flat attached to the property which accommodated one person. The location is registered to support nine people. Three people were using the service at the time of our inspection. The home was in a residential area with no distinctive features to indicate it was a care home.

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

People were safe, and staff understood how to raise a safeguard or how to protect people from the risk of infection. The provider assessed and managed risks to people, producing personalised risk management plans that allowed people to take positive risks while protecting them from harm. When things went wrong, they had learned from this to improve risk management plans. There were sufficient staff, and all had been recruited safely with checks in relation to references and criminal records. Medicines were managed safely.

Staff had received training for their role and understood current guidance on care for people’s conditions. People were supported to make choices for their meals and their nutritional needs were considered. Health care needs were reviewed, and action taken to promote people’s wellbeing. This reflected all aspects of health including oral healthcare.

People’s views had been obtained to encourage or drive improvements. There was a homely atmosphere and people were able to decorate and enjoy their environment as they wished. People had established positive relationships and told us they felt staff were caring. Respect was shown to people and their dignity maintained. Information was stored securely and confidentially.

The care plans were detailed and had been reviewed to ensure any changes were documented and shared with the staff team. Communication methods used were suitable for each individual.

We have made a recommendation about recording people's preferences around end of life care. This is best practice in case a person using the service dies suddenly.

The registered manager made sure staff were well supported and aware of their responsibilities. The provider used audits effectively, to reflect on any actions or trends. There was a complaints policy in place. The provider had sent us notifications about significant events and their outcome following their investigation and actions.

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 consistently 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. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in care settings that provide care for people with, or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers for improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 03/12/2018 and this is their first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

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.