Stairways

Updated 8 September 2018

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 23 August 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector. Before our inspection we reviewed information, we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. We also reviewed the provider information return (PIR) submitted to us. This is information that the provider is required to send to us, which gives us some key information about the service and tells us what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with four people who used the service, three staff members and the registered manager.

We reviewed care records relating to three people who used the service and other documents central to people's health and well-being. These included staff training records, medication records and quality audits.

Updated 8 September 2018

Stairways is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide care and support for up to 11 adults with learning disabilities and physical disabilities, which includes some complex needs. The home is comprised of three separate flats that each have their own staff group assigned. People in each flat have their own bedrooms and have access to communal areas such as the kitchen lounge shower and bath rooms.

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.

This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People felt safe living at Stairways, staff had access to good guidance and risk assessments to keep people safe.

Staff received training and appropriate support to carry out their roles effectively.

People`s medicines were managed safely by trained staff who had their competencies assessed. Where people were able they were supported to manage their medicines.

The provider had policies and procedures in place to protect people from the risk of infections and staff adhered to these.

There were enough staff employed through robust procedures to meet people`s needs effectively.

People were involved in planning their care and support, signed their own care plans and consented to the support they received.

People were involved in duties around the home such as cleaning, laundry, cooking meals.

People had opportunities to pursue their hobbies, interest and socialise in house and in the community.

People`s feedback about the service they received was regularly sought and they felt they could voice their opinions in meetings and one to one conversations they had with staff.

People and staff were positive about the management of the service. There were systems in place to ensure the quality of the service was monitored and improved if the need was identified.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.