Archived: 13a The Green Rd

Updated 9 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned this inspection 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.

This comprehensive inspection took place between 28 August and 25 September 2018. One inspector carried out the inspection. We visited the agency’s office on 28 August 2018. We gave the registered manager notice of the inspection because this is a small service and we wanted to make sure that someone would be in the office.

Prior to the inspection we looked at information we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the law requires the provider to tell us about. We had asked the provider to complete 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. We reviewed this information and the report of our last inspection.

During the visit to the office we spoke with the person receiving the service, the registered manager, the provider’s representative and four support workers. Following the site visit we wrote to a number of healthcare professionals who the registered manager told us had had recent contact with the service. Four healthcare professionals responded by 25 September 2018 and we have included their comments in this report.

Updated 9 November 2018

13a The Green Road is a domiciliary care agency (DCA), providing the regulated activity of personal care to people who live in a specialist housing scheme at The Green Road in Sawston. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used at this scheme; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. The local mental health team supported people who lived there. At the time of this inspection one person was receiving support with their personal care from the agency.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. We have written this inspection report in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People continued to receive a safe service. Staff protected people as far as possible from discrimination, abuse and harm. The registered manager assessed potential risks to people. They put plans in place so that staff knew how to minimise risk without taking away each person’s right to take risks. The provider employed enough staff, who were suitable to work in this service, so that they could meet people’s diverse and changing needs. Staff gave people their prescribed medicines safely. The staff team learnt from any accidents and incidents.

People continued to receive an effective service. Staff received training and support, which equipped them to do their job well. Senior staff assessed people’s needs before offering the person a service. Staff supported people to eat and drink enough and to maintain their health. 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.

People continued to receive care and support from staff who cared about them. Staff were kind, compassionate and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They knew people well and supported people to remain as independent as possible. Staff welcomed people’s relatives and visitors.

People continued to receive a service that was responsive to their needs. People were fully involved in planning their care and support. Support plans were personalised and gave information from the person’s perspective. Staff arranged outings if people wanted to join in and supported people to join in community activities. The registered manager dealt appropriately with complaints.

The service continued to be well-led, by a registered manager who provided good, hands-on leadership. They monitored all aspects of the service for quality and put actions in place to address any shortfalls. There was an open, person-centred culture. The provider sought the views of people, their relatives and staff and these views were taken into account to ensure continuous improvement. The service worked in partnership with organisations such as the local mental health trust to provide people with joined-up care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.