We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 2 December 2017. We also visited the registered manager on the 8 December 2017 to look at additional records and gather further information. The Durnford Society Limited - 31 Parkstone Lane provides care and accommodation for up to four people with learning disabilities. On the days of our inspection there were four people living in the service.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. At the last inspection on the 8 October 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why the service is rated good:
We met and spoke with all four people during our visit and observed the interaction between them and the staff. People were not able to fully verbalise their views and used other methods of communication, for example sign language and pictures.
A relative said: “Yes, very safe here. We visit every day and are very happy with the care they receive.” Staff said; “Absolutely safe” and another said; “Yes because we know people and they know us.”
People remained safe at the service. People had sufficient staff on duty to meet their needs. People were protected by safe recruitment procedures to help ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Staff confirmed there was sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and additional staff were provided for activities and health appointments.
People’s risks were assessed, monitored and managed by staff to help ensure they remained safe. Risk assessments had been completed to enable people to retain as much independence as possible. People received their medicines safely by suitably trained staff.
People continued to receive care from staff who had the skills and knowledge required to effectively support them. Staff confirmed they had completed safeguarding training. All new staff completed the Care Certificate (a nationally recognised training course for staff working in care). One staff recently completing the Care Certificate said Equality and Diversity was discussed as part of that training.
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 supported this practice. People’s end of life wishes were not currently documented, however the provider had arranged end of life training for staff and was in discussion with relatives. People's healthcare needs were monitored by the staff and people had access to a variety of healthcare professionals.
People’s care and support was based on legislation and best practice guidelines, helping to ensure the best outcomes for people. People’s legal rights were up held and consent to care was sought. Care plans were person centred and held full details on how people’s needs were to be met, taking into account people preferences and wishes. Information included people’s previous history, any cultural, religious and spiritual needs. One professional said; “I feel Parkstone provides high quality care, they have a good keyworker system and each keyworker knew each resident well in providing person centred care.”
People were treated with patience, kindness and compassion by a staff team who valued them. The staff had built strong relationships with people. People's privacy and dignity was respected. People or their representatives, for example relatives, had been involved in decisions about the care and support people received.
The service remained responsive to people's individual needs and provided personalised care and support. People had complex communication needs and these were individually assessed and met. People were encouraged to make choices about their day to day lives. The provider had a complaints policy in place and the registered manager confirmed any complaints received would be fully investigated and responded to.
The service continued to be well led. People lived in a service where the registered manager’s values and vision were embedded into the service, staff and culture. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and had an open door policy and made themselves available to people and staff.
People lived in a service where the registered manager’s values and vision were embedded into the service, staff and culture. Relatives, professionals and staff spoke positively about the registered manager and the company. The registered manager was committed and passionate about the service, including the people and staff, and the company they worked for. Staff also spoke passionately about the people they cared for and the respect they held for people.
People benefited from a registered manager who worked with external agencies in an open and transparent way and there were positive relationships fostered. A professional spoke well of the way the registered manager and staff worked with them. The registered manager kept their ongoing practice and learning up to date to help develop the team and drive improvement.
The registered manager and provider had monitoring systems which enabled them to identify good practices and areas of improvement.
People lived in a service which had been designed and adapted to meet their needs. The service was monitored by the registered manager and provider to help ensure its ongoing quality and safety. The provider’s governance framework, helped monitor the management and leadership of the service, as well as the ongoing quality and safety of the care people were receiving.