Archived: Dimensions 1a and 1b Maurice Lee Avenue

This unannounced inspection took place on 9 January 2017. At our last inspection in July 2015 the provider was rated as requires improvement. Dimensions provides accommodation and personal care for up to 6 people who may have a learning disability.

There was a registered manager 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.

Relatives we spoke to told us they thought their family member was safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in keeping people safe and knew how to report any suspected abuse and felt confident they would be listened to. Staff were aware of the risks to people’s health and safety and knew the measures in place to keep people safe. We saw there were sufficient staff to keep people safe. The provider had a safe recruitment system which meant staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. There was a system in place to ensure people got their medicines as prescribed.

Relatives told us they thought staff were trained to meet the needs of the people who lived at the service. Staff told us they received training which meant they could provide effective care for the people they supported. Staff sought consent from people before providing any care. People’s rights were protected because staff and the registered manager had applied the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. People had choices about their food and had sufficient to eat and drink to maintain their health. Relatives told us and we saw people had access to healthcare professionals when their needs changed.

We saw people were supported by kind and considerate staff. We saw people were happy and comfortable with staff. Staff told us how they offered people choices in their daily lives. People were encouraged to maintain their independence and were supported by staff in a dignified way.

Relatives told us, and we saw people were supported by staff who knew their individual preferences which meant the care they received was responsive to their individual needs. People had access to activities both in the service and in the community. The provider had a system in place which meant should they receive any complaints they would be listened to and investigated.

We saw people appeared happy living at the service. Relatives and staff told us the service was well led. Staff felt supported by the management and told us the culture was open and transparent. We saw there was system in place which monitored the quality of the care people received. Where areas of concern were identified, action was taken to ensure people received the care they needed.

We observed staff understood what the people wanted even though they had little verbal communication skills. Some people were able to say what they wanted and others used objects of reference or visual prompts which helped them to make choices about their daily living activities.

Staff told us they always considered how people's lives could be improved and how friendships could be supported. We were told activities were arranged with other service to ensure people could experience new things and meet their friends. They demonstrated to us that they understood their responsibilities and how to ensure the people were kept safe and well supported. We saw that everyone was treated with dignity and respect.

People who received a service were happy and relaxed. We saw them making choices and being encouraged to be as independent as they were able.

Likes, dislikes, preferences and goals were considered in relation to the support that people received. Everyone was seen to be treated with dignity and respect.

We saw how staff met people's care and support needs in ways that they preferred and we saw that detailed records gave staff the information that they required to do this.

People were protected because staff were confident to recognise and report abuse.

People were supported by a knowledgeable and well trained staff team who knew their care and support needs well. Staff received a range of training opportunities specifically designed to meet the needs of the people who received a service.

The home ensured that people's views were considered and listened to. Staff responded to verbal and non verbal communication methods to identify and respond to people's needs and wishes.

The organisation had comprehensive quality monitoring tools in place to ensure that they maintained good quality care.