Archived: Pelican Court

Updated 21 September 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned 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 inspection took place on 26 July 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one 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.

Before the inspection, we looked at previous inspection reports and notifications about important events that had taken place at the service, which the provider is required to tell us by law.

We spoke with two people about their experience of the service. We spoke with three support assistants and the registered manager to gain their views. We asked three health and social care professionals for their views about the service. We observed the care provided to people who were unable to tell us about their experiences and spoke to one relative.

We spent time looking at records, policies and procedures, complaint and incident and accident monitoring systems, internal audits and the quality assurance system. We looked at two people’s care files, three staff record files, the staff training programme, the staff rota and meeting minutes.

Updated 21 September 2016

The inspection was carried out on 26 July 2016 and was unannounced. At our previous inspection on 8 and 9 June 2015 we found breaches of four regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made to meet the relevant requirements.

Pelican Court provides accommodation for people who require personal care. The accommodation is set over two floors providing support for up to nine adults with learning and physical disabilities and complex communication needs. Some people were not able to communicate using speech and used body language, signs and facial expressions to let staff know how they were feeling. At the time of the inspection support was being provided to six people, four people were living on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

At the time of our inspection 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.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. At the time of the inspection, the registered manager had applied for DoLS authorisations for people living at the service, with the support and advice of the local authority DoLS team. The manager and the management team understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Mental capacity assessments and decisions made in people’s best interest were recorded.

People experienced a service that was safe. Staff and the management team had received training about protecting people from abuse, and they knew what action to take if they suspected abuse. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and measures put into place to manage any hazards identified. Staff knew how to support people whilst minimising any potential risks that had been identified. The premises were maintained and checked to help ensure people’s safety.

There were enough staff on duty with the right skills to meet people’s needs. Staff had been trained to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and checks were carried out to make sure staff were suitable to work with people who needed care and support.

People received their medicines safely and when they needed them. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe administration of medicines and staff had been trained and assessed to administer medicines safely.

People were supported to remain as healthy as possible. Guidance was available within peoples support plans to inform the staff of any specific health condition support. People were encouraged to maintain as much independence as possible.

Staff had received the training they required to meet people’s needs. A comprehensive induction programme was in place which all new staff completed. Staff had a clear understanding of their roles and people’s needs. Staff were supported in their role from the management team.

People were treated with kindness and respect. People’s needs had been assessed to identify the care and support they required. Care and support was planned with people and their loved ones and reviewed to make sure people continued to have the support they needed. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. Detailed guidance was provided to staff about how to meet peoples needs including any specialist support needs.

People participated in activities of their choice within the service and the local community. There were enough staff to support people to participate in the activities they chose.

Processes were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service being provided to people.