Archived: London Borough of Greenwich - 75 Ashburnham Grove

Updated 24 March 2017

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.

Before the inspection we looked at all the information we held about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the service sent to the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events that the service is required to send us by law. 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.

This inspection took place on 15 and 17 February 2017 and was unannounced. The service was inspected by one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience on 15 February 2017. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The adult social care inspector returned to the service 17 February 2017 to complete the inspection.

We spoke with four people who used the service, one relative, five staff, and the manager. We looked at four people’s care records and seven staff records. We also looked at records related to the management of the service such as details about the administration of medicines, complaints, accidents and incidents, safeguarding, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, health and safety, and quality assurance and monitoring.

Updated 24 March 2017

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 15 and 17 February 2017. London Borough of Greenwich – 75 Ashburnham Grove provides personal care and support for up to 11 adults who have a range of needs including learning disabilities. There were nine people receiving personal care and support at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. However, currently a new manager was in day to day management of this service.

People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt safe and that staff treated them well. The service had clear procedures to support staff to recognise and respond to abuse. The new manager and staff completed safeguarding training. Staff completed risk assessments for every person who used the service which were up to date and included detailed guidance to reduce risks. There was an effective system to manage accidents and incidents, and to prevent them happening again. The service had arrangements in place to deal with emergencies. The service carried out comprehensive background checks of staff before they started working and there were enough staff on duty to support to people when required. Staff supported people to take their medicines safely.

The service provided training, and supported staff through regular supervision and an annual appraisal of their performance to help them undertake their role. Staff prepared, reviewed, and updated care plans for every person. The care plans were person centred and reflected people’s current needs.

The provider ensured the service complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were followed.

Staff assessed people’s nutritional needs and supported them to have a balanced diet. Staff also supported people to access the healthcare services they required and monitored their healthcare appointments.

People and their relatives where appropriate, were involved in the assessment, planning and review of their care. Staff considered people’s choices, health and social care needs, and their general wellbeing. Staff supported people in a way which was kind, respectful and encouraged to maintain their independence. Staff also protected people’s privacy and dignity.

Staff supported people to take part in a range of activities in support of their need for social interaction and stimulation. The service had a clear policy and procedure about managing complaints. People and their relatives knew how to complain and told us they would do so if necessary.

There was a positive culture at the home where people felt included and consulted. Staff felt supported by the manager. The provider sought the views of people who used the service to help drive improvements. The provider also had effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of services people received, and to make improvements where required. Staff used the results of audits to identify how improvements could be made to the service.