Archived: United Response - 15 Osborne Road

This inspection visit took place on 16 March 2017 and was unannounced.

United Response - 15 Osborne Rd is a small care home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three people. The home is a detached house located close to St Anne’s town centre and a variety of local services and amenities. Each person has their own bedroom and shares communal facilities. At the time of our inspection three people lived at 15 Osborne Rd. They had lived together for several years.

At the last comprehensive inspection on 20th November 2014 the service was rated overall as good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

There were procedures in place to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. We saw risk assessments were in place which provided guidance for staff. This minimised risks to people.

Although people had limited verbal communication we were able to speak with two people who lived at the home or their relatives. They told us they felt safe with staff, and liked the staff who supported them. One person said, "Yes I am safe here." They said staff were friendly and respectful.

Staff supported people with medicines safely. Medicines were stored securely, administered as prescribed and disposed of appropriately.

There were sufficient staff available to provide personal care and individual social and leisure activities. They received training to carry out their role and were knowledgeable how to support and care for people. They had the skills, knowledge and experience to provide safe and effective support.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them.

Care plans were personalised detailing how people wished to be supported. People who received support or where appropriate their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care. Their consent and agreement were sought before providing care.

People who used the service or their relatives knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint. The complaints procedure was available and people said they were encouraged to raise any concerns.

Senior staff monitored the support staff provided to people. They checked staff arrived on time and supported people in the way people wanted. Audits of care and support records and risk assessments were carried out regularly. People and their relatives were encouraged to complete surveys about the quality of their care.

We met all three people. As people living in the home had limited verbal communication, we also talked to relatives to find out their views of the home.

We observed staff communicating with people. We saw that they were friendly and respectful and that they communicated effectively.

Person centred care records were in place providing information about people. These were updated frequently and showed that people were involved in decisions.

Osborne Road was maintained and decorated for the comfort of the people living there. Bedrooms were personalised according to people's wishes.

The home was staffed well enough to provide people with individual and group activities.

There were regular checks of the quality of the service and changes made if needed.

We spoke with relatives of some of the people who lived at 15 Osborne Rd. They said that their family member was treated with respect and that they were involved in decisions about care. One relative said, 'The staff involve us all the time and phone us regularly.'

People told us that they were happy with the staff. One person said 'They are great.' People said they felt safe at Osborne Rd. They said staff would help them if they were upset. Relatives were praising about the staff. They felt the staff were good and cared well for their family member.

Each person had an individually structured routine, based on their likes and dislikes. People were encouraged to make decisions about the educational and leisure activities they wanted to do. They were also encouraged to develop daily living skills.

Person centred care records were in place, which provided up to date information about the support needs and lifestyles of people.

There were regular checks by managers of the service to make sure the home was running well and meeting people's needs.