Background to this inspection
Updated
11 July 2019
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
United Response 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 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 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection-
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.
During the inspection
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to discuss evidence we found on the day. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two relatives who regularly visit the service.
Updated
11 July 2019
About the service
United Response is a residential care home for people with learning disabilities. The home can accommodate up to five people in one adapted house. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the home. People at the home had a range of physical and learning disabilities.
The service had 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 received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received kind care from staff they knew and who knew them in return. People’s needs were consistently met and assessed to enable improvements and progress in their lives. Risks to people were assessed and managed to balance people’s safety and right to lead a non-restricted life. There were enough well-trained staff to ensure people were supported safely at all times.
People were supported to communicate with their relatives and the managers when they were not happy or wanted to change their support. Staff cared about the people they supported and enjoyed working at the home.
People, relatives and staff were engaged by the service via meetings so that everyone could contribute to the development of the service. There was a credible strategy in place with plans for staffing improvements at the service. This was being implemented by the registered manager who was pro-active in considering how the service could be improved.
People were engaged throughout the day by staff who made them smile or express their happiness.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
Good (August 2016)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.