Archived: 165 Point Clear Road

Updated 12 December 2018

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.

The inspection took place on 07 November 2018. It was undertaken by one inspector.

Prior to our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports. We contacted the local authority to obtain their views about the care provided. We considered the information which had been shared with us by the local authority and other people, looked at safeguarding notifications which had been submitted. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

A Provider Information Return (PIR) was requested prior to the inspection. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan how the inspection should be conducted.

During our inspection we observed how the staff interacted with people and we spent time observing the support and care provided to help us understand their experiences of living in the service. We observed care and support in the communal areas, the midday meal, and we looked around the service. Some people were able to talk with us about the service they received but others could not. 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 the records at the service. These included three staff files which contained staff recruitment, training and supervision records. Also, medicine records, complaints, accidents and incidents, quality audits and policies and procedures along with information in regard to the upkeep of the premises.

We looked at three people's care documentation along with other relevant records to support our findings. We also 'pathway tracked' people living at the service. This is when we looked at their care documentation in depth and obtained information about their care and treatment at the service. It is an important part of our inspection, as it allowed us to capture information about a sample of people receiving care.

During the inspection we spoke with two people, three staff, one healthcare professional, a visiting advocate, the care co-ordinator and the registered manager

Updated 12 December 2018

165 Point Clear is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under a contractual agreement with the local authority, health authority or the individual, if privately funded. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

165 Point Clear provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. 165 Point Clear is an adapted residential property situated in a residential area of St Osyth in Clacton and is close to amenities and main bus routes. The premises is set out on two floors with each person using the service having their own individual bedroom and adequate communal facilities are available for people to make use of within the service. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the 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. 'Registering the Right Support CQC policy.”

At our last inspection of this service on 10 February 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring, that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were arrangements in place to protect people from risks to their safety and welfare, including the risks of avoidable harm and abuse. Staffing levels were sufficient to support people safely.

Recruitment processes were in place to make sure the service only employed staff who were suitable to work in a care setting.

There were arrangements in place to store medicines safely and administer them safely and in accordance with people's preferences.

Staff received appropriate training and supervision to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge to support people according to their needs.

Staff were aware of and put into practice the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health and welfare. People were supported to access healthcare services, such as GPs and specialist healthcare professionals.

Care staff had developed caring relationships with people they supported. People were encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support and their views were listened to. Staff respected people's independence, privacy, and dignity.

Care and support were based on assessments and plans which took into account people's abilities, needs and preferences. People were able to take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests.

People were kept aware of the provider's complaints procedure, and complaints were managed in a professional manner.

The service had a calm, welcoming atmosphere. Systems were in place to make sure the service was managed efficiently and to monitor and assess the quality of service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.