Archived: SENSE - 35 and 37 Britannia Road

Updated 1 January 2019

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 22 November 2018 and was unannounced.

We gave the service short notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a service to a small number of people and we wanted to be sure they would be available during our inspection.

The inspection was undertaken by one Inspector and a BSL interpreter. Prior to the inspection we checked all information available to us, including notifications. Notifications are information about specific incidents and events the provider is required to tell us by law. The provider also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form completed by the provider to describe how the service operates and any improvements they plan to make.

We met with both the people using the service. We met with the registered manager and the two staff on duty during our visit. We reviewed care plans and other documents relating to the running of the service such as audits, meeting minutes and fire safety information.

Updated 1 January 2019

SENSE 35 and 37 Britannia Road, provides accommodation and support for up to four people with learning disabilities and hearing loss. Service users use some British Sign Language (BSL) and staff are all able to sign. Some staff used BSL as their first language. At the time of our inspection there were two people living at the service. People lived in their own flats within the building.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was 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.

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.

Why the service is rated Good.

People using the service were safe. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and to support them in taking part in the activities they wanted to do. Restraint was occasionally used to manage behaviour that challenged. However this was used as a last resort and staff were trained in using safe techniques.

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 lacked capacity, decisions were made in their best interests. Staff were well supported with training and supervision to help them carry out their roles effectively.

The service was caring. Staff were kind and caring in their approach and people were calm and confident in their presence. People and their relatives were able to be involved in care planning and reviews.

People took part in a range of activities with the support of staff. These were well planned to ensure they were safe and enjoyable. There was a complaints procedure in place for people to raise their concerns and this was available in a format suited to their needs. People were actively encouraged to raise any concerns at review meetings.

The service was well led. There was a registered manager in post supported by a deputy and senior. Team meetings were held to aid communication with the staff team and pass on important information about the service. There were systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below