Background to this inspection
Updated
23 January 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type: Aspire Living - 1-2 Markeys Close is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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 unannounced.
What we did when preparing for and carrying out this inspection: We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection, we spent time with people in the communal areas of the home and we saw how staff supported the people they cared for. We used the Short Observational Framework for inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, two senior staff members and five care staff. We also spoke with one relative and a health and social care professional, who regularly visited the home, to find out their views of the quality of the care provided.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and multiple medication and health records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home. For example, systems for managing any complaints, and the checks undertaken by the registered manager on the quality of care provided.
Updated
23 January 2019
What life is like for people using this service:
• People enjoyed living at Aspire Living - 1-2 Markeys Close and were cared for by staff who were kind and recognised people’s areas of independence.
• Staff promoted people’s right to dignity and privacy and were respectful to the people they cared for.
• People's, their relatives' and other health and social care professional’s views were listened to when people’s needs were assessed and plans for their care were developed. The provider and staff addressed potential barriers preventing people moving to the home. This approach enabled people to move to the home, and continue with relationships which were important to them.
• People were encouraged to make their own decisions and choices; staff supported people by using people’s preferred ways of communicating. We found people had access to a range of pictorially based information to help them make their own decisions. The registered manger planned to work with other health and social care professionals to further enhance people’s individual communication plans and to enable people to continue to access information.
• Staff knew people’s safety needs well and supported people so their individual risks were reduced.
• People were supported to have their medicines regularly, by staff who were competent to do this. People’s medicines were regularly checked and reviewed.
• There were sufficient staff to care for people at the times people wanted assistance.
• The environment at the home was regularly checked. The risk of accidental harm or infections was reduced, as staff used the knowledge and equipment provided to do this.
• Staff had received specialist training and developed the skills they needed to care for people. This helped staff to provide good care to people.
• Staff supported people to have the nutrition they needed, based on their preferences, so people remained well. Where people required specialist diets, or assistance with eating and drinking safely, staff supported them.
• People had access to the healthcare they needed. Staff worked with other health and social care professionals to ensure people had the best physical health and well-being possible.
• People were supported to enjoy a range of activities which reflected their interests, and enhanced their lives. This included support to enjoy spending time in the community, doing things they liked. Staff found imaginative ways to ensure people had the opportunity to connect with hobbies and interests which were important to them, as their needs changed.
• Systems were in place to take any learning from complaints, which were used to reflect on people’s needs and to further improve their individual care.
• People, their relatives, staff and other health and social care professionals were encouraged to make any suggestions for improving the care provided and the service further. We found suggestions were listened to.
• The registered manager and staff reflected on the care provided, so improvements in people’s care would be driven through.
• We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in all areas; More information is available in the full report
Rating at last inspection: Good. The last report for Aspire Living - 1-2 Markeys Close was published on 28 July 2016.
About the service: Aspire Living - 1-2 Markeys Close is a is a residential care home, providing personal care and accommodation. There were 9 people living at the home at the time of our inspection. People living at Aspire Living - 1-2 Markeys Close live with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.