Archived: Beighton Road

Updated 5 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector, one assistant 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.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in three ‘supported living’ settings, 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service including Healthwatch (Sheffield). Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s support records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and a senior manager about the registration and management structures of the service.

Updated 5 March 2020

About the service

Beighton Road is a supported living service providing personal care to 18 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 18 people living in three houses with six people living in each house. Each house had a communal lounge, kitchen and bathroom and shared gardens. Underneath the umbrella of Beighton Road are two other supported living services: Westwick Road in Sheffield, and Dillington Mews in Barnsley. Westwick Road provides personal care to one person and Dillington Mews supports two people with their personal care.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There was a lack of clarity from the provider about how Westwick Road and Dillington Mews were managed. At Dillington Mews people, relatives and staff were not aware who the registered manager was. There was no clear line management structure at this service to the registered manager. Although regular audits took place by named service leads oversight by the registered manager had not been clearly identified.

We have made a recommendation about how the provider provides clarity and clear management oversight of all the services the registered manager is accountable for.

People, relatives and staff were involved in the running of the service and decisions about the service, wherever possible. The service considers improvements and manages and monitors these. The service works with and supports people to access other agencies according to their needs.

Systems and practices protect people from abuse; and staff were knowledgeable about these. Risks to people were assessed and people were supported safely. Staffing levels were calculated according to people’s needs. Medicines were administered safely. Premises were cleaned regularly and personal protective equipment was available. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and used to learn lessons and make improvements; these were shared and discussed with staff.

People’s needs were assessed and people were supported in line with best practice guidance. Staff had access to supervisions, appraisals and training. People’s dietary needs were known and people were supported appropriately to eat and drink. Staff had regular handovers and worked with other professionals to ensure people had access to ongoing and appropriate healthcare. Consent to care and treatment wass sought and recorded. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with kindness and respect. People were supported in their decisions and choices. People’s privacy and dignity were respected.

People’s care plans were personalised and people had individual support plans based on different aspects of their lives and their needs. Concerns, complaints and compliments were recorded and responded to where appropriate. People’s end of life needs were considered.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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