3 January 2018
During a routine inspection
Blackwood Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Blackwood Road accommodates up to seven people in one adapted building. At the time of inspection the service was providing support and care for seven people with a learning disability, as well as people with a physical disability.
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.
The service had a registered manager in place. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection, the service was rated good. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’ and the responsiveness of the service had improved to outstanding.
People and relatives were without exception extremely positive about the care and support provided. The service was adaptable and responsive to people’s individual needs and choices, empowering people to live as full lives as possible. Information was provided in a range of accessible formats to assist people in understanding the care available to them. Relatives we spoke with, our observations and records we viewed clearly demonstrated that people received highly personalised care. People had choice and control over how their needs were met. Staff listened to people and worked with them to achieve their goals from preparing cakes, planning a holiday to researching and locating a family member’s grave.
The provider had systems in place to ensure people were protected from abuse and harm. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were aware of the provider’s whistleblowing process. Safeguarding concerns were fully investigated with appropriate action taken. Risk assessments were specific to the person and identified the risk and the actions needed to be taken to keep the person safe. Medicines were managed safely. Sufficient well trained staff were available to ensure people’s needs were met promptly. The provider ensured checks were in place to maintain the safety of the home. Systems were in place to ensure people would remain safe in the event of an emergency.
The home was well maintained and decorated to a high standard. People and relatives were consulted in the choice of décor. People were supported to personalise their own rooms. The service supported people to gain access to healthcare professionals. People were promoted to eat a healthy balanced diet.
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.
Relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were treated with respect and dignity. Staff had extensive knowledge about people, their preferences, interests and people important to them. People were involved in all aspects of decision making about their care and treatment. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible.
External healthcare professionals told us the service provided exceptional end of life care, stating staff went that ‘extra mile.’ A relative told us, “They were all amazing. The care [relative] received was outstanding.”
Care plans were person centred and provided staff with clear information on how to support people in line with their preferences. Staff worked well together. Staff told us they were supported by the management team. The provider had an effective quality assurance processes to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided and to ensure that people received appropriate care and support.
The provider had a clear ethos of providing high quality care for people. The registered manager and the manager were passionate about people receiving the best care possible. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was continually sought and acted upon.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.