Archived: Henshaws Society for Blind People - 1 The Avenue Knaresborough

Updated 8 November 2017

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 registered 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 21 and 28 September 2017. The inspection on 21 September was unannounced and was carried out by one adult social care inspector. The inspection on 28 September was carried out by one adult social care inspector and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed all of the details we held about the service, including notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are when providers send us information about certain changes, events or incidents that occur within the service, which they are required to do by law. We contacted the local authority commissioning team to gain their views of the service. All of this information was used to plan the inspection.

The registered provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the registered provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We received the PIR shortly after our visit to the service and we took the information it contained into account into our findings and the preparation of this report.

During the inspection we observed how staff interacted and communicated with people who used the service. We met four people who used the service. Following the inspection, we contacted three relatives. We spoke with the registered manager and three support workers.

We reviewed three care files for people who used the service, together with their associated medicines administration records [MARs]. We looked at a selection of documentation relating to the management of the service such as training records, supervision and appraisal sessions, quality assurance audits, and maintenance of equipment records. There had not been any new staff recruited at the service since our last inspection so we discussed the recruitment and induction processes with the registered manager.

Updated 8 November 2017

Henshaws Society for Blind People - 1 The Avenue Knaresborough is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for five people who have a learning disability and an additional sensory impairment. Accommodation is provided in a three storey detached house with communal areas on the ground floor. The staff office, bedrooms and bathrooms are accessed by means of a staircase.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 21 and 28 September 2017.

There was a policy and procedure to guide staff in how to safeguard people from the risk of harm and abuse. Safe recruitment procedures were in place and staff were deployed in sufficient numbers to allow people to follow their individual interests, hobbies and pursuits. Staff received training, supervision and support to enable them to have the skills and confidence to communicate with people and provide effective care and support.

Risks were identified and action taken to reduce risks without impacting on their rights and freedoms to be independent.

People were supported to maintain their health and had access to a range of community health care professionals. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People could choose what they had to eat and drink and staff supported them to plan menus, to shop and prepare meals.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People had their needs assessed and plans of care were developed in order for them to receive individualised care. We found that staff knew people’s needs well and delivered focused, person centred care. Staff were caring and patient and we observed that people who used the service were comfortable and at ease with staff.

People were involved and encouraged to participate in a range of activities of their choosing. Staff promoted people’s independence throughout our visit. There had been no complaints since the last inspection. People told us they would feel confident raising any issues with the manager if needed.

There was a quality monitoring system that surveyed people’s views and audited aspects of the service to enable improvements to be made.

We saw the environment was warm, clean and tidy and was suitable for people’s current needs.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.