Background to this inspection
Updated
26 May 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, looked at the overall quality of the service, and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The inspection took place on 11 April 2016 and was unannounced. This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Before the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service, including previous inspection reports, improvement plans and notifications the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. The registered provider gave us additional information on the day of the inspection.
We spoke with or observed care and support given to five people who lived at the home. We spoke with the manager and their line manager, two support staff and four people who lived at the home.
We looked at the care plans and associated records for two people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s policies and procedures, emergency plans, internal and external checks and audits, staff training, staff appraisal and supervision records, staff rotas, and recruitment records for two members of staff.
Updated
26 May 2016
This inspection took place on 11 April 2016 and was unannounced. The last inspection took place in September 2013 when three breaches under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 were identified. We found at this inspection that these issues had been addressed.
31 Beach Road is registered to offer support and accommodation for up to nine people who have a past or present experience of mental ill health. On the day of our visit there were six people living at the home.
There was a registered manager in place; however they had left in March 2016. The new manager told us that they will be applying for registration. 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.
People told us they were very happy with the care and support they received and if not they were happy to tell staff of any issues.
People were well supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank and could help themselves at any time.
The care staff we spoke with demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. Staff also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns.
Staff told us they enjoyed working in the home and were a close, long standing group of staff.
Staff described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.
The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there.
People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for and staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed.
There was evidence that people and staff had been involved in reviewing support plans.
Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home.
People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely
The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest’s decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that any decisions were made in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice.
The service was also meeting the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1987 (2007) (MHA) as some people were being cared for under the MHA.
People accessed the local community on their own and they were free to come and go from Beach Road with the caveat that they told staff when they were leaving and an expected time of return.
They also participated in shopping for their own food needs.
There was a quality assurance system in place which meant that the service was able to monitor, review and adapt.