This comprehensive inspection took place on 10 August 2015 at Oak House (the headquarters of the provider, Wirral Autistic Society) where we looked at some records relating to 60 Manor Place and on 26 August 2015, when we visited the home itself.
The home was an end of terrace house where accommodation and personal care were provided for two people who have autism. The home is one of a range of services operated by Wirral Autistic Society (WAS) which is a registered charity. At the time of our inspection there were two people living at 60 Manor Place.
The home required a registered manager. 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 was a registered manager in place who had been in post for several years as had many of the staff.
The people living in the home were able to express themselves in a safe environment. They were able to choose the way they spent their day. They were taken to activities outside the home and encouraged to keep family connections by visiting family where possible. Residents meetings where held frequently. People who lived at the home decided the sort of food that they would like to eat themselves, shopped for it and were supported to cook it by the staff.
We found that the staff were well trained and supported. They were able to demonstrate skill and competency in their knowledge about autism and the support people required. The people living there were clearly happy with the support that staff gave them and there was a good rapport between them.
We checked the medication cabinet which was stored in the staff sleepover room. We saw that medication was given as directed and stored appropriately. We talked with staff who were able to demonstrate their knowledge of safeguarding and were able to tell us how to report abuse. The home environment was clean and well decorated and there was appropriate fire fighting equipment and evacuation plans in place, in case of an emergency.
Each of the people’s bedrooms had been personalised by the people who lived in them and they looked homely and cared for. They were able to lock their bedroom doors, choose who entered their rooms and go in and out of the front door freely.
Care records, staff records, audits and other documents relating to the running of the home, were well-kept and up-to-date.