The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Alderbury

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

The Alderbury Bungalow, 40 Spiders Island, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 3BG (01722) 710072

Provided and run by:
Scope

All Inspections

8 and 9 September 2015

During a routine inspection

Alderbury is a care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities and additional physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection five people were living at the home.

This inspection took place on 8 September 2015 and was unannounced. We returned on 9 September 2015 to complete the inspection.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Plans to manage risks people faced did not always contain up to date information or provide guidance to staff on the support that people needed.

Staff did not demonstrate a good understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Mental capacity assessments for people did not follow the principles of the MCA.

Medicines were safely managed and people who use the service and relatives were positive about the care they received. Comments from relatives included, “ I am very happy with the care provided. (My relative) is always very well looked after”; “There are sufficient staff available and they know (my relative) well”; and “I have raised concerns with the manager and I have seen improvements recently”.

There were systems in place to protect people from abuse and harm and staff knew how to use them. Staff understood the needs of the people they were supporting.

Staff received training suitable to their role and an induction when they started working for the service. They demonstrated a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, as well as the values and philosophy of the service.

The provider assessed and monitored the quality of care and was in the process of addressing shortfalls in the service provided.

We found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

5 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We used various ways to help us understand the experience of people in this service because not everyone was able to fully explain themselves to us. We watched people's facial expressions and body language to gauge their reactions to the support offered by staff. We also watched the different ways staff interacted with people, looked at people's care records and met with staff.

There were five people living in the service at the time of our visit. Three people were out for the day at their day service, so we met with two people and four staff.

We saw that staff worked in person centred ways. For example, knocking on people's doors before entering their rooms and offering choices wherever possible. Staff were knowledgable about people's support needs and treated people respectfully. They were supportive and patient. We saw they explained things and reassured people where necessary.

Care plans clearly reflected each person's needs and preferences. Families were encouraged to be involved as much as possible.

The service had a quality assurance system in place. We saw that regular audits were completed and any complaints or concerns were responded to immediately.

The service took all reasonable steps to prevent the possibility of abuse from happening and all staff were suitably trained in safeguarding.

We saw that the service had a quiet, relaxed atmosphere that people appeared to prefer. People knew the staff team well and seemed happy to be living here.

14 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We haven't been able to speak to every person using the service because of their complex needs. We gathered evidence of people's experiences of the service by reviewing the comments book, observing care practices, talking with staff, relatives and health care professionals.

During our visit we observed there was a relaxed atmosphere with people choosing where they wished to be seated. One person was seen to be enjoying the sunshine in the conservatory. Another person was getting ready to go to day services.

One person told us they enjoyed living at Alderbury. They showed us their bedroom and said they had everything they needed.

We spoke to their relative who commented 'I cannot speak too highly of the home. They are excellent and provide an amazing standard of care'.

We had the opportunity to talk to two health care professionals. They told us they had a good relationship with the home. Another health care professional commented 'I have never had any issues or worries about the home, I am really happy with the care provided'.

28 April 2011

During a routine inspection

People were supported to choose how they spent their days. When we visited, a person was staying in bed late, we observed that care workers went in at times to see how the person was and if they wanted to get up yet. Care workers fully respected the person's wishes when they indicated that they wanted to get up later. A person indicated to us by their body language how much they enjoyed going out to the local pub, taking part in Karaoke there and going to their parents' house.

Relatives made comments on behalf of people living in the home. One person commented on the 'good home cooking'. A relative described the cleanliness in the home as 'brilliant'. Another relative described the 'excellent' communication between them, the home and other professionals when their relative needed equipment. A relative said that they were consulted 'all the time' about care for their relative.