Choices Housing Association Limited - 2 Cowley Way

Updated 7 June 2019

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

Inspection team: One inspector completed the inspection.

Service and service type: 2 Cowley Way 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: The inspection was unannounced.

What we did: Before our inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including notification of changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send us within the required timescales. We contacted professionals in local authority commissioning teams, safeguarding teams and Healthwatch. Healthwatch are a consumer group who champion the rights of people using healthcare services.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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 spoke with two people who used the service and observed interactions between staff and people who used the service. We spoke with four members of staff: the registered manager, the area manager and two support staff.

We looked at two people's care plans, risk assessments and medicines records. We reviewed staff training information, quality assurance systems, a selection of the provider's policies and procedures for the service, meeting minutes and maintenance records. Following the inspection we contacted four relatives and two health and social care professionals.

Updated 7 June 2019

About the service: Choices Housing Association Limited - 2 Cowley Way (‘2 Cowley Way’) provides personal care and support for up to eight people who have a learning disability, in one purpose built detached house. The service was full at the time of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service: The culture was welcoming and inclusive. People enjoyed living at 2 Cowley Way.

Staff, most of whom had been at the service for several years, cared passionately about their roles and people receiving good health and wellbeing outcomes.

The registered manager had confidence in their staff and the respect was mutual, with a good team spirit and shared understanding of how best to support people.

Feedback from people, their relatives and external professionals was positive regarding the continuity of care and the sensitive, dignified approach of staff. Staff turnover was extremely low and agency staff were not used.

There were sufficiently trained staff, suitably deployed, to meet people’s needs safely.

Healthy eating was encouraged, as was healthy living, notably through people being supported to use the gym.

People’s individual preferences, likes, dislikes and important information such as allergies and potential triggers to anxiety, were well known by staff.

Regular meetings were held with staff and people who used the service. These meetings were an opportunity to openly discuss a wide range of topics. People and staff confirmed they could raise queries or suggestions in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere at these meetings.

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.

Good community links were in place and people felt a part of their community. People were encouraged to try new activities and make new friendships.

Records were accurate, up to date and person-centred. Clear systems were in place for the review and audit of all aspects of the service, with support in place from the area manager.

The registered manager had been in post for five months and demonstrated a good knowledge of the needs of people. People got on well with the registered manager and relatives confirmed they were approachable.

Turnover of staff remained low and staff morale was high.

The care service was managed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

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

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published December 2016).

Why we inspected: We inspected the service in line with our scheduled programme of inspections.