Sefton New Directions Limited - Aintree Lane

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.

People’s experience of using this service:

The service provided individualised care and support in accordance with best-practice. People who used the service and their relatives spoke very positively about their experience and the care provided by staff.

Staff treated people with kindness and respect and supported their dignity in a sensitive manner. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence. They were actively involved in decision-making regarding their own care and developments within the service.

Staff knew people very well. They understood their needs and provided effective care to keep them safe. Risk was subject to regular review and was effectively managed. People received their medicines as prescribed from trained staff. The home was clean and well-maintained.

Staff received regular training and support and were equipped to provide effective care. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people were unable to make decisions about their care and support, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.

Care records captured important information regarding people’s histories, families and preferences. This information was used to tailor the provision of care to meet each person’s needs.

The registered manager, provider and staff promoted an open, positive culture with a focus on high-quality, person-centred care. The registered manager and provider made effective use of audits and other sources of information to review and improve practice. The home had forged links with other services and resources in the local community to support further development.

More information is provided in the full report.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 20 December 2016)

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating from the last comprehensive inspection.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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

Sefton New Directions Limited - Aintree Lane is a short stay residential care home which provides respite for adults with learning disabilities. It is located in the Aintree district of Sefton within reach of good transport links to Ormskirk and surrounding areas. At the time of the inspection four people were staying in the home for short term breaks.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

We saw that people who stayed at Aintree Lane were well cared for. One person’s relative said staff supported people well.

Staff were appropriately trained and skilled and provided care in a safe and well maintained environment. Staff fully understood their roles and responsibilities.

The staff had completed various training sessions including training on safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act to make sure that the care and support provided was safe and effective to meet their needs.

The provider had safe recruitment procedures. They employed skilled staff and took steps to make sure that staff were suitable to provide care and support that met the needs of people who used Aintree Lane.

The provider offered choices for when someone wanted to stay and often people requested dates when their friends were staying. They planned when they needed to bring more staff into the service, especially when they had planned group activities and trips out.

Staff working in the service understood the needs of the people coming to stay and we saw that care and support was provided with respect and kindness. People who used the service told us they were all very happy with the service and their care.

Staff were aware of nutritional needs and made sure they supported people to have choices in offering a good variety of food and drink during each person’s stay.

Throughout our inspection we saw examples of good communication and involving people who were enjoying their break at the service. People told us they felt included and consulted in the planning of their support and were treated with respect. People told us they received the care and support they requested and needed.

Everyone we spoke with said they felt comfortable to raise any concerns with staff; nobody had any concerns or complaints about the service.

The provider had systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care consistently. The service encouraged feedback from people who use the service and their families, which they used to make improvements to the respite service.

Staff told us the district nursing service provided on-going clinical support and peoples GP's visited regularly to review people as needed. The care files contained daily records of the care and support people received and this included visits by health professionals where appropriate.

The home was being maintained satisfactorily with all areas safe and comfortable for people to live in. We looked at some of the maintenance records and also saw good on-going monitoring [auditing] of the service carried out by the provider.

People living at Aintree Lane and their relatives spoken with on the day of our inspection were very positive about the staff and the care provided. Relatives said that staff were available and provided good support. We saw staff interacting and supporting people during the inspection.

We looked at a series of records maintained on the home. These ranged from care records for people living at the home, maintenance records and staff records. All of these were maintained satisfactorily.

People we saw were relaxed in the home and staff made time to interact and ask after their wellbeing. A relative we spoke with said, 'I've no problems. My [relative] is happy to stay and seems happy with things.'

We spoke with the manager and four staff members. They told us they had received training and understood how to report any concerns or allegations of abuse. The staff told us they felt supported in their job and received supervision from their manager.

We looked at how people were involved in the quality of the service and how opinions were sought. A relative said the managers were easy to contact and responsive. They were able to speak about a concern some time ago but this was sorted out.