Juniper

Updated 14 March 2018

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 site visit took place on 19th January 2018 and was unannounced.

Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports, notifications and any other relevant information we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is information we require providers to send to us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

The inspection was undertaken by two inspectors.

During the inspection, we spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, care staff and three people that use the service. We looked at two care plans, risk assessments, one recruitment file, medicines records, quality assurance surveys and audits. After the inspection we received feedback from three family members and two healthcare professionals.

Updated 14 March 2018

Care service description

Juniper is a service for up to three people with learning disabilities, that sometimes present with behaviours which could challenge. The service is a detached bungalow in a residential area close to local amenities. There were three people living at the service when we inspected.

Juniper 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. Juniper accommodates three people in one adapted building.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection on 4th November 2016, the service was rated Good.

Rating at this inspection

At our inspection on 19 January 2018 we found the service was still Good.

Why the service is rated Good

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. People with Learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary life as any citizen.

People and staff felt safe, safeguarding policies were in place to protect people from harm and abuse. People were supported by a small, consistent staff team, that clearly knew them well. Staff were recruited in line with legislation and best practice. Staff had received training and had regular individual meetings with the registered and deputy manager to ensure they were effective in supporting people. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible in managing their medicines. Risks to people and the environment had been assessed and action taken to reduce the risk where possible. Staff had effective training on infection control and the service was clean, tidy and without odour when we inspected.

People were actively involved in the way the service was run, and were consistently given every opportunity to be as independent as possible. 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 support this practice. People were supported to make decisions about the food they ate, and staff supported people to maintain a balanced diet. People were supported to be as healthy as possible, and had regular reviews with the GP, dentist and the chiropodist. People were involved in the running of the service. People supported staff to redecorate their bedrooms, and in the day to day upkeep of the service.

People and their relatives told us they were treated with kindness and respect. Strong relationships had been formed between people and staff over time. We observed kind interactions between staff and people throughout the inspection.

People were partners in planning their care, which was done in a person centred way. There were no complaints since the previous inspection, and the registered manager had policies in place to ensure all incidents resulted in learning and improvement for the people living there. End of life care was not being delivered at the time of our inspection, but the registered manager had started to discuss wishes with people and their families.

The registered manager had been in post for several years, and understood their regulatory responsibilities. Where necessary they had submitted notifications to the CQC and the rating for the service was clearly displayed. There was a clear vision for promoting independence and a positive culture which people and staff confirmed and feedback was regularly sought. People, staff and healthcare professionals were united in their positive feedback about the registered manager. The registered manager regularly carried out checks and audits to ensure people were provided safe effective care.