Background to this inspection
Updated
12 February 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 7 and 10 January 2019 and was unannounced on the first day. We gave notice of the second day as we needed to be sure people would be in when we visited. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Before the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications, which are a legal requirement, provide the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with information about changes, events or incidents so we have an overview of what is happening at the service. We contacted relevant agencies such as the local authority commissioning groups, safeguarding and local Healthwatch England. Healthwatch England is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
We also used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we spoke and spent time with all the people who used the service and spoke by telephone with one person’s relative. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, three members of staff and two agency staff members. We observed interactions between staff and people who used the service when in communal areas.
We spent time looking at documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We looked at two people’s care plans and two people’s medicines records.
Updated
12 February 2019
This inspection took place on 7 and 10 January 2019 and was unannounced on the first day.
The Cherry Tree Dispersed Scheme provides 24-hour care for adults with learning disabilities, in two houses in a quiet residential area of Wetherby, just outside of Leeds. The service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At the time of our inspection there were eight adults with learning disabilities using the service.
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 so that people with learning disabilities and autism can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
At our last inspection in May 2016, we rated the service ‘good’. At this inspection, 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.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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. The registered manager also managed two other of the provider’s services and split their time between managing these services.
People told us they felt safe. Sufficient staff were employed; however, we have recommended that the provider keeps this under review. Staff were safely recruited. Risks to people's health were assessed and understood. Staff were trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Some problems relating to the cleanliness of the premises were identified at the inspection; the registered manager addressed these promptly. Medicines were managed safely.
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 regular training, supervisions and appraisals to support them to provide effective care. People had choice around what they ate and were supported to maintain good health.
We observed kind and caring interactions between people and staff. There was a positive and inclusive culture at the service. The provider promoted a culture of dignified and respectful care People were supported to increase or maintain their independence and were involved in planning their care.
Care plans were person centred, detailed and updated as and when people's care needs changed. People were supported to lead active and fulfilling lives. Systems were in place to manage complaints. Information was provided in a range of accessible ways and staff provided effective support to help people communicate.
Quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the quality of care delivered. The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with external health and social care professionals to ensure people's health and social care needs were met. We received positive feedback about the management team. They were described as supportive, effective and committed to providing good quality care and support for people.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.