Gombards

Updated 25 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector completed this inspection.

Service and service type

Gombards is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package, under one contractual agreement. 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 before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We also sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We visited the home on 04 February 2020. During our visit, we spoke with the registered manager, a senior support worker, two support workers and one agency worker who undertook regular shifts at the service. As people were unable to communicate their feedback to us, we also carried out observations of people’s care and interactions with staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

On 11 February 2020, we spoke with the provider’s recruitment manager to clarify procedures at the service. We also spoke with one professional and two relatives.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and other quality assurance records.

Updated 25 March 2020

About the service

Gombards is a care home providing personal care and support for up to eight people with learning and physical disabilities. On the day of our inspection, eight people were using the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were safe at the service and there were enough staff to meet their support needs. Staff had received all necessary training and had a good understanding of people’s needs.

People’s needs were fully assessed. Detailed support plans were in place and reviewed regularly. Risks were managed appropriately. People were supported to manage their medications safely.

The environment was clean and fully adapted to meet people’s needs.

People were supported to eat and drink, in line with their individual needs. The service worked well with other professionals to ensure people received the right support.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were supported to communicate their wishes and make decisions. Staff were knowledgeable about the most effective methods to support people to communicate.

The provider had quality assurance systems in place. The management team had effective oversight of the service and staff felt well supported in their role.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at Last Inspection

At our last inspection, the service was rated Good (published 05 July 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.