Background to this inspection
Updated
6 June 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We planned this inspection to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
Due to the size of the service, the inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
ASE - 69 Reigate Road is a ‘care home’. 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 service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection-
People were unable to speak to us on our inspection. Instead, we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We observed the interaction between people and staff at different periods throughout the inspection.
As part of the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff. We also spoke with the provider’s area manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at records in relation to training and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed.
After the inspection
We asked the registered manager to send us some additional information following the inspection, which they did. We also received feedback from three relatives.
Updated
6 June 2019
About the service
ASE - 69 Reigate Road provides accommodation for up to six people with a learning disability such as autism. Some people also had visual problems. At the time of the inspection six people were living at the service. The size of the service meets current best practice guidance. This promotes people living in a small domestic style property to enable them to have the opportunity of living a full life.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were cared for by staff who showed a caring and attentive approach towards them. Staff knew people well and this was clear though the interactions between people and staff. People were enabled to access activities both within and outside of the service.
People lived in an environment that was suitably adapted for them, however we noted some areas which looked worn and as such may not be easy to clean. The service was currently undergoing redecoration which would address this.
People received the medicines they needed although we found that one person had no pain patch records to demonstrate their medicine was applied appropriately. The registered manager told us they would remedy this.
People were helped to stay safe through the information in their care plans, the actions from staff and the risk assessments that had been developed. However, we found the registered manager had not reported two incidents of potential abuse to CQC in line with their statutory requirements. We have made a recommendation to the registered provider in this respect.
Staff had undertaken some detailed work in response to people’s needs, such as supporting someone to start making their own decisions and another person to undergo a surgical procedure with the least discomfort to them. Staff were continually looking at ways to improve the service and provide the best care to people.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service did support this practice.
The principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance ensure people with a learning disability and or autism who use a service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best outcomes that include control, choice and independence. At this inspection the provider had ensured they were applied. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update)
At the last inspection in September 2016, we gave the service a rating of Good (published 4 November 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.