Archived: Fir Tree Road

Updated 28 July 2016

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

This inspection took place on 08 June 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Before the inspection we gathered information about the service by contacting the local and placing authorities. In addition, we reviewed records held by CQC which included notifications, complaints and any safeguarding concerns. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at the inspection.

On this occasion we did not request that the provider completed or returned a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make. Instead we sought evidence of the quality of the service during the inspection.

As part of our inspection we spoke to five people who used the service, one relative, three members of staff and the registered manager. We observed how staff cared for people and worked together. We read care plans for three people, medicines records and the records of accidents and incidents. We looked at three people’s mental capacity assessments and reviewed applications to the local authority to deprive people of their liberty.

We looked at three staff recruitment files and records of staff training and supervision. We saw records of quality assurance audits.

We looked at a selection of policies and procedures and health and safety audits. We also looked at minutes of meetings of staff and residents

Updated 28 July 2016

The inspection took place on 8 June 2016 and was unannounced. This was a comprehensive inspection.

Fir Tree Road is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to eight people who have learning disabilities and some associated physical or mental health conditions. On the day of our inspection there were six people living at the home. People were aged between 73 and 91 years old. Many of the people living at the home had lived together for 30 years.

The home had 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.

Staff understood their role in safeguarding people and we saw that incidents were being reported where appropriate.

We found that policies and procedures were in place to guide staff in how to keep people safe in the event of emergencies. Fire drills and fire alarm tests were carried out along with regular audits of emergency and contingency planning.

People were administered their prescribed medicines by staff who had received medicines training. Medicines were stored safely and systems were in place to ensure medicine stock could be monitored and audited.

Staff routinely carried out risk assessments and created plans to minimise known hazards whilst encouraging people’s independence.

Staff training was tailored to the individual needs of people who live at the home.

Staff provided care in line with the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Correct procedures were followed when depriving people of their liberty in their best interests.

Staff followed the guidance of healthcare professionals where appropriate and we saw evidence of staff working alongside healthcare professionals to achieve outcomes for people.

People told us that they enjoyed the food people were being provided with choice and also being involved in writing menus.

Information in care plans reflected the needs and personalities of people. People had choice about activities they wished to do and staff encouraged people to pursue new interests.

People were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the care they received through residents

meetings and keyworker sessions. We saw evidence that issues raised by people were responded to by management.

Staff told us that they were well supported by management and had regular supervision.

People and relatives told us that they had a positive relationship with the registered manager.