Background to this inspection
Updated
20 November 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
356 Station Road is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (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
We gave a short period notice of the inspection because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider/registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. The registered manager had completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information and the previous inspection report to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with the two people who lived in the service and observed them in their home and how they interacted with the staff. We spent time with people in the shared areas of the service. We walked around the
building and saw individual bedrooms. We looked at information contained in both care files. We looked at the records related to medicines management and to people's finances.
People using the service had a range of communication needs. Some people were able to say a few words. However, people mostly communicated by gestures, behaviour and by using signs and pictures. People were not able to provide us with detailed information about their experience of living in the service. To gain further understanding of people's experience of the service we spent time observing how they were supported by staff and spoke with their relatives.
We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager. We looked at two staff records which confirmed what staff told us about their induction, training and development.
After the inspection
We spoke with two health and social care professionals to gain their views of the service people received and have incorporated this feedback into this report.
Updated
20 November 2019
About the service
356 Station Road is a residential care home. The home accommodates up to two people in one house. At the time of our inspection two people with learning disabilities were living at 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
The provider had systems in place to ensure people remained safe. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were aware of the provider's whistleblowing process. Risks had been identified and managed.
The provider ensured checks were in place to maintain the safety of the home. People received support to take their medicines safely. The provider ensured staff employed were suitable with the right skills and experience to support people living at the service. Enough well-trained staff were available to ensure people's needs were met.
Staff treated people as individuals with compassion and kindness. The provider had a clear ethos which staff spoke proudly about. Staff told us they were supported by the management team.
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.
We observed many happy interactions between people and staff. Staff clearly knew people well and were knowledgeable about people's life histories, family structures, preferences and care and support needs. We
observed staff seek permission before supporting people.
Care plans were person centred and provided staff with clear information on how to support people in line with their preferences. People were supported to take part in activities and interests they enjoyed.
The registered manager set high standards and led by example. The staff team felt supported by the registered manager and the organisation. Staff promoted a culture of inclusiveness and people were valued for their individuality. Effective checks and audits were completed to make sure people received a good quality of support. Staff worked with people’s health care professionals to ensure care was joined-up.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good. (published on 21st March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor this service and inspect in line with our re-inspection schedule for services rated good.