Archived: United Response - 9 Blunt Street

The accommodation at 9 Blunt Street consists of a lounge, a sensory room, a kitchen with dining facilities and four personalised bedrooms. The service has a vehicle people can use and there are good links to public transport and local community facilities. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.

9 Blunt Street 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 care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection in November 2016, we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service remained safe. People were protected from the risks of abuse because staff understood where harm may be caused and took action when people were at risk. Where staff were concerned about their safety they knew who to speak with. People were supported to take risks at home and when out and encouraged to be independent and learn new life skills. Risks were assessed and reviewed to keep people safe and protect them from avoidable harm.

People kept their medicines in the bedroom and were helped to understand what their medicines were for. Staff knew why people needed medicines and when these should be taken. Staffing were organised flexibly to enable people to be involved with activities and to do the things they enjoyed.

People still had good effective outcomes and had access to food and drink that they liked. People’s health and wellbeing needs were monitored and they were supported to organise and attend health appointments as required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People made decisions about their care and staff helped them to understand the information they needed to make informed decisions. Staff sought people’s consent before they provided care and they were helped to make decisions which were in their best interests. Where people’s liberty was restricted, this had been done lawfully to safeguard them.

People received personalised care and staff were confident that they assisted people in the way they wanted. Staff knew people’s likes and dislikes and care records reflected how people wanted to be supported and how care was provided. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity, encouraged people with making choices, and promoted independence. People could have an advocate to help them to make important decisions.

The service remained caring and people were treated with kindness, compassion and respect and staff promoted people’s independence. The staff had developed good relationships with people and helped them to maintain relationships with their families and friends. Staff recognised where people may be unhappy and expressed dissatisfaction. Relatives knew how to complain about their care and concerns were responded to.

The provider and registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained. Where necessary, improvements were made to the service. The provider had an ongoing action plan that showed how the service was continually improving.

They understood the requirements of their registration with us informed us of information that we needed to know.

Information was recorded in the support plans regarding people's capacity to make decisions. Where it was identified that people lacked capacity to make decisions information was recorded on how people's needs were to be met in their best interests.

People's family members we spoke with were positive about the service, comments included, 'x seems happier now than previous care services they have lived at.' This person told us that their relative always seemed happy to return to the service and said, 'they see the service as their home, which is reassuring.'

People's method of communication was recorded in their support plans. This ensured staff could support people according to their preference and choice.

Support plans provided clear and up-to-date information that was tailored to meet people's needs and preferences. People's cultural and spiritual preferences were also included in their support plans.

Sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to ensure people's needs were met effectively.

From our observations and discussions with staff, it was clear that they had a good understanding of people's support needs. The relationship between staff and the people using the service was positive and it was evident that people felt comfortable with the support they received.

People's family members we spoke with were very positive about the service, comments included, ' the staff understand people's needs, they are all treated as individuals in their own right, I think the support provided is excellent. '

People's method of communication was recorded in their support plans. This ensured staff could support people according to their preference and choice.

Staff training records demonstrated that staff were provided with all areas of mandatory training and training specific to the needs of the people using the service. The records seen confirmed that updates were provided as required.

The provider had systems in place, that were managed effectively to monitor the care and services provided, and to identify and manage risks to ensure the service was run safely.