Archived: Armstrong House

Updated 23 March 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This was a focused inspection to check if the provider had taken action to address concerns identified at the previous inspection undertaken in September 2015. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This inspection took place on 11 February 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We inspected the service against sections of three of the five questions we ask about services: is the service safe, is the service effective and is the service well-led. This is because the service was not meeting legal requirements in relation to these questions at the previous inspection in September 2015.

We reviewed the previous inspection report and information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We met both people living in the home. We spoke with the registered manager, both staff on duty and the provider’s representative. We observed staff interactions with both people in communal areas, and looked at care plans and associated records for them both. We also checked medicine administration records, records relating to staff training and support, some of the provider’s policies, procedures and records relating to the way the provider checked the quality of the service provided.

Updated 23 March 2016

We carried out a focused unannounced inspection on 11 February 2016 to check whether Armstrong House had taken action to meet the requirements of three warning notices we issued on 23 November 2015. This report only covers our findings in relation to these topics.

We undertook an unannounced comprehensive inspection at Armstrong House on 22 and 25 September 2015 at which breaches of regulations were found. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Armstrong House’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Armstrong House is registered to provide accommodation for up to six younger adults who have a learning disability or autism and who require personal care. At the time of our inspection two people were living at Armstrong House.

The home had a registered manager at the time of our inspection. 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.

Action had been taken to meet the warning notices issued following the inspection in September 2015. The registered manager and provider’s representatives were aware of key strengths and areas for development of the service. Quality assurance systems were in place using formal audits and regular contact by the provider and registered manager with people, relatives and staff.

People’s healthcare histories were known and they had access to healthcare services when needed. Medicines were managed safely.

Risks were assessed and managed safely. Plans were in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies and staff had received training to manage such situations safely.

There were enough staff with the necessary knowledge and competency to meet people’s needs. Contingency arrangements were in place to ensure staffing levels remained safe. Staff received appropriate training and were supported in their work.