The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Your Choice Services - St Johns Road

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

28 St Johns Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7PY (01635) 41464

Provided and run by:
West Berkshire Mencap

All Inspections

16 June 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 16 June 2015. The service was providing personal care support for seven people within a supported living setting, each with their own individual flat. The people supported all have needs relating to learning disability and some were also living with autism.

The service was required to have a registered manager and one was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

We found the service was well managed and there were sufficient and well trained staff to meet people’s needs. The registered manager monitored the operation of the service effectively; sought and acted upon the views of people, relatives and external professionals.

Staff were knowledgeable about people, understood their communication and were effective in meeting their needs. Staff respected people’s dignity, privacy and rights; and advocated on their behalf with other agencies. Staff also ensured people’s healthcare needs were met.

People were safe and well cared for and experienced a fulfilling lifestyle in accordance with their wishes and preferences. They and their representatives were involved in decisions about their care. People received the support they needed with their medicines and could manage these themselves if able.

The staff team provided good and consistent care and maintained a calm, relaxed and homely atmosphere. People appeared relaxed and happy and related positively to staff.

5 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We found that the people supported or their representatives had been fully involved in planning and consenting to the care and support provided. One parent described the care as 'very personalised'.

Care plans and associated documents were person centred and provided the details necessary so staff could provide consistent support in such a way that it respected the person's wishes and preferences.

The provider had appropriate systems to safeguard people and provided staff with training on safeguarding vulnerable adults. Thorough systems were in place to confirm the suitability and identity of prospective employees.

The manager had systems to enable her to maintain an overview of the operation of the service. The views of the people supported, their representatives, care managers and staff were sought about the service. One relative said 'since I involved Mencap I have never looked back'. Staff were positive about working for the provider. One said they had a 'very good service user focus' and another that the managers were 'open to ideas'.

16 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke to the family representatives of five of the people supported by the agency. All praised the agency for the quality of support provided to their relative. People's healthcare was also said to be well managed. People told us the agency listened to their views and kept them informed of anything significant. We were told that staff treated the people they supported with respect.

Relatives were happy that the staff had positive relationships with the people they supported. We were told about the encouragement provided to enable people to take part in activities in the community. Representatives also said that the staff were good at supporting and encouraging people to develop their own skills.

People felt that they had opportunities to raise any concerns they might have and that these would be listened to.

16, 24 June 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We asked the relatives of four of the people being supported by the agency for their views about the support people received. All were very positive about the support offered and the way they had been involved in planning the support package. Relatives felt the staff provided a good range of activities for the people supported and one praised the healthcare support provided.

We were told the agency communicated well with families representing the people being supported and kept them well informed. People were very happy with the quality and competence of the staff. They felt there were opportunities to feedback any issues or concerns to the agency and that these were listened to and addressed.