An adult social care inspector carried out this this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?As part of this inspection we observed activities taking place, spoke with four people who used the service, three relatives of people who used the service, the home's manager and three members of care staff. We also reviewed records relating to the management of the service which included four care plans, daily records, staff records and quality assurance monitoring records.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, their relatives and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at.
Is the service safe?
People who used the service indicated that their social and health care needs were met in a safe and appropriate way. People also felt safe because they had confidence in the staff members and they also engaged well with them, without any reservations.
Family members of people who used the service said that they felt their relative was kept safe when they had stayed at Lyons Gardens because they were well looked after.
Health and safety risk assessments had been carried out and measures were in place to minimise these, to keep people safe.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care services. While no applications have needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place and under review. Relevant staff have been trained to understand when an application should be made, and how to submit one.
Equipment was available to safely support people's individual needs. Members of staff were trained to safely support people with their equipment.
There was a sufficient number of staff employed to provide people with safe and appropriate care as planned and also to meet people's changed level of needs as required.
Is the service effective?
People's choices and decisions about their support and care were respected and valued. People told us that they were actively consulted, including people's representatives, about their support and care.
Procedures were in place, but people's care records needed to be more detailed regarding mental capacity assessments. This would then ensure that where people who may not have had the mental capacity to understand complex information would have their support and care needs met in their best interests, and reasons for this to be recorded. People who were considered not able to understand complex information were represented by people who were legally appointed to do so.
People were supported to engage in meaningful activities. One of the people using the service told us that they took part in helping with domestic duties and, with staff support, was aiming to make an evening meal for other people to share. Another person told us that the care and support was, 'Brilliant.' They also told us that they were enabled to continue with their educational courses, whilst temporarily living at Lyons Gardens.
The standard of support and care had enabled main carers to continue in their role of looking after their relative at home in the community. This was because their relative spent time at Lyons Gardens away from home, allowing their main carer to have a break. The aim of some of the people's support and care also enabled people to move on to more independent living.
Is the service caring?
Relatives of people who used the service told us that members of staff were kind, caring and considerate. Our observations noted that members of staff interacted with people who used the service in an attentive way including providing individual care and attention to people they were looking after.
People who we spoke with and who we observed indicated that they liked the members of staff and liked how they were being looked after. They were laughing, smiling and were settled.
Is the service responsive?
People's needs, choices and personal preferences had been assessed and were under review. Members of staff demonstrated to us how they respected people's choices and decisions about their support and care. One of the people who used the service told us that they wanted to become more confident and independent when travelling in the community, and they had been enabled to do this.
People's individual social care needs were responded to. People were supported to engage in meaningful social and recreational activities. They were also supported to maintain contact with their friends and family members, where this support was needed.
Is the service well-led?
Members of staff told us that they had the training and support to safely do their job, which they said they enjoyed.
People, including members of staff and family members of people who used the service, were provided with opportunities to make suggestions and comments to improve the quality of people's support and care.
We received positive comments in respect of the leadership and management of the home. People, including staff members and a social worker, had noted improvements in the standard and quality of the service, since the change of leadership in the home during 2013.
A completed application, to register the home's manager, has been submitted for the CQC to consider.