Helmsley Road Short Breaks Service

Updated 9 March 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 checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 18 January 2018 and 26 January 2018 and was unannounced. On the 18 January 2018 when we arrived to inspect only two people were using the service. We deemed this to be insufficient to enable us to carry out a comprehensive inspection. We carried out some elements of the inspection and then returned on 26 January 2018 when eight people were using the service.

The inspection team on both days consisted of an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before 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 reviewed other information we held about the home, which included notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We also contacted County Council commissioners of adult social care services and Healthwatch and asked them for their views of the service provided.

During the inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, three relatives, seven members of the care staff including a team leader and the two registered managers.

We looked at all or parts of the records relating to five people who used the service. We looked at other information related to the running of and the quality of the service. This included quality assurance audits, training information for care staff, staff duty rotas, meeting minutes and arrangements for managing complaints.

Updated 9 March 2018

We carried out an unannounced inspection of the service on 18 and 26 January 2018. Helmsley Road Short Breaks Service a 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. This service supports people who have a learning and/or physical disability.

Helmsley Road Short Breaks Service accommodates 12 people across three separate units, each of which have separate adapted facilities. People do not live at this home, they attend this service for short, pre-arranged breaks, some as short as one night with other stays lasting up to two weeks. During our inspection on the 18 January two people were staying at the home, during our inspection on 26 January, eight people were staying at the home.

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.

At the last inspection on 17 November 2015 the service was rated Good overall, however it was rated Requires Improvement for the question, ‘Is the service Effective?’ After this inspection the service maintained its overall rating of Good and the rating for the question ‘Is the service Effective?’ improved to Good.

People continued to receive safe care and the risks to people’s safety were continually assessed and reviewed. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff in place to support people. People's medicines continued to be managed safely and effectively. Relationships with other health and social care agencies to offer further support for people. Accidents and incidents were monitored, reviewed and where needed measures put in place to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.

People’s physical, mental health and social needs were assessed and provided in line with current legislation and best practice guidelines. Staff received a detailed induction and training programme. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to lead a healthy lifestyle. People’s day to day health needs were met by the staff and other healthcare agencies where needed.

Staff and the registered managers treated people with respect, dignity and compassion which led to people forming positive and meaningful relationships with them. People were encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible. People were provided with information about advocacy services and were supported to make decisions about their health and care needs where able. There were no restrictions on people’s friends or relatives visiting them during their stay.

People’s needs were assessed each time they came to stay at the home. People’s personal preferences and likes and dislikes were recorded within their care records. They were used by staff to communicate effectively with them and to provide them with a stay at the home that was personal to them. Processes were in place that ensured people’s cultural and religious choices were respected and people were provided with information in a way that reduced the risk of discrimination. People felt able to make a complaint if they needed to and that it would be acted on.

The service was well-led by two registered managers who were well liked by relatives, staff and the people they supported. There was a positive atmosphere at the home. People and staff were encouraged to contribute to the development of the service. Effective auditing processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service. The registered managers carried out their role in line with their registration with the CQC.