Arden Place

Updated 13 April 2019

The inspection: 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.

Inspection team: One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type: Bethphage 1 is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to younger adults with a learning disability.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The registered manager had only recently been registered with CQC although had worked for the provider for several years.

Notice of inspection: This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice of our inspection to make sure a member of staff could meet with us at the office location.

What we did: Before the inspection we reviewed any information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the 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 this information to plan our inspection.

We spoke with three people who used the service during our visit to ask about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, area manager, assistant service manager and three support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at multiple records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 13 April 2019

About the service: Bethphage 1 provides care and support to people living in 11 ‘supported living’ settings across Walsall, Birmingham and Wolverhampton so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. Nine people were using the service when we inspected.

People’s experience of using this service: The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; by promotion of choice, control, independence and inclusion. For example, people's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and increase or maintain their independence.

People and staff told us they felt safe at the service. People received support to take their medicines safely. Risks to people's well-being were recorded and updated when their circumstances changed. Staffing was provided at safe and consistent levels that enabled people to go out and access the community when they chose to with support.

People's rights to make their own decisions were respected. People were supported to access healthcare services if needed. Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support in a person-centred way. The service was keen to pursue any learning and development opportunities for staff and ensured training was well monitored.

The emphasis of support was towards enabling people. People were complimentary about their staff and the positive relationships they had with them. The service ensured people’s families and friends were involved and part of people's lives. Support plans were clearly written and ensured people received care and support as they preferred.

The values of the organisation of offering choice, inclusion and respect were embedded. This supported people to receive a positive service. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities. The service had several quality assurance systems in place and there was a focus on continuous development.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published August 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up: We will monitor all intelligence received about the service to inform the assessment of the risk profile of the service and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.