The inspection visit at Bedford Road took place on 19 September 2016 and was announced. We informed the registered manager we would be coming. This was because the home was small and we wanted to ensure people were available to talk with us. Bedford Road is situated in the residential area of Bootle, Liverpool. The service is operated by Autism Initiatives and provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to three adults who are living with autism. The residential care home is located close to public transport links, leisure and shopping facilities. At the time of our inspection there were two people living at the home.
The service had 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.
At the last inspection on 05 February 2014, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations inspected.
During this inspection, staff had received abuse training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices related to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure.
We found staffing levels were suitable with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people who used the service.
The provider had recruitment and selection procedures to minimise the risk of inappropriate employees working with vulnerable people. Checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at the service. This was confirmed from discussions with staff.
Staff responsible for administering medicines were trained to ensure they were competent and had the skills required. There were appropriate arrangements for storing medicines safely.
Staff received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
People’s representatives told us they were involved in their care and had discussed and consented to their care. We found staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People told us they were happy with the meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were available between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration.
We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. We saw the management team had responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.
Comments we received demonstrated people were satisfied with their care. The management and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. They were committed to providing a good standard of care and support to people who lived at Bedford Road.
Care plans were organised and identified the care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.
People told us they were happy with the activities organised by staff at Bedford Road. Staff members who knew the people and knew what they liked to do and what they did not like arranged activities.
A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew who to complain to if they had any problems.
Staff spoken with felt the registered manager was accessible, supportive, approachable, listened, and acted on concerns raised.
The registered manager had sought feedback from people who lived at the home and staff. They had consulted with people and their relatives. They had observed people’s mood and behaviours as an indicator of the quality of the service being delivered.
The provider had regularly completed a range of audits to maintain people’s safety and welfare.