Archived: Care Management Group - 3a The Droveway

3a The Droveway is registered to support up to three people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection there were two people living at the home. The home provided personal care and support to two men who were in their twenties. The service offered specialist support for people with autism. Both people had associated complex needs, communication and sensory difficulties and behaviour that could be challenging to others. The service had been developed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support guidance 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 other citizen.

At the last inspection on 12 August 2015, the service was rated as good in the areas of Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The service was rated as requires improvement in the area of Safe but the overall rating for the service was Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going 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.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 12 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours notice of the inspection because the home is small and we needed to be sure that there would be someone in when we visited.There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage a 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 service had improved and people were receiving their medicines safely. Risks had been identified and there were clear plans in place to guide staff in how to support people safely. Staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding people. Infection control measures were effective and incidents and accidents were monitored and used to inform improvements. A relative told us that they felt their relation was “definitely safe.”

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. Staff had received the training and support they needed to be effective in their roles. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and staff ensured people could access the health care services they needed. The premises had been altered to meet the needs of the people living at the home.

Assessments were holistic and supported staff to provide care in a personalised way. Staff knew people well and understood how to communicate with them. People were comfortable in the presence of staff. People were supported to make choices and to express their views. A relative told us that they believed their relation was happy and that staff were kind and caring. Staff treated people with respect and spoke of their achievements with pride and admiration. People’s privacy was respected and staff supported people to be as independent as possible.

Staff were responsive to people’s needs, recognised small changes and understood the importance of maintaining a consistent approach with the people they were supporting. Staff described how maintaining consistency had helped to reduce incidents of behaviour that could be challenging and this had improved the quality of life for people living at the home.

The service was well led and staff spoke positively about the management of the home. A relative told us “I think things have improved 100% since the manager came.” There were effective systems and processes in place to monitor the quality of the service including a complaints system. Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We saw that they had appropriate systems and policies in place in respect of cleanliness and infection control. The property appeared clean and well maintained.

We found that people received support and care that met their individual needs from friendly, knowledgeable and professional support staff. We spoke with people who were very positive about their experiences of the support offered. The comments we received included, 'I wish I had worked here years ago, it's very much a positive experience and the service users are such lovely young people.'

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs.

The provider had systems in place to gain and review consent from people who used the service. We saw that people were involved in their care and were asked for their consent. We found staff took time to ensure there was choice in the care options available.

People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment, as accurate and appropriate records were maintained.

All the staff that we spoke to had formed close professional relationships with the two people who used the service. The premises were clean and well maintained and the atmosphere was relaxed and homely. The deputy manager told us 'Respect is the most important thing to me. It might be our workplace but it's their home. We view ourselves as guests in their home'.

Staff we spoke with said that they had undertaken safeguarding vulnerable adults training and all knew the correct procedure to follow if they witnessed or suspected abuse. Support workers had developed awareness and a sound understanding of both of the individuals' support needs. A support worker that we spoke to told us 'The care we provide is tailored for the guys on a level which leads to them being themselves. We add new things, new experiences into their lives to further their abilities'.

Both the people who used the service at 3a The Droveway benefit from effective quality assurance systems and a dedicated manager and staff team committed to improving the service provided.