The Limes is a large semi-detached property in a pleasant residential area of Grimsby close to the centre of town and overlooking an established park. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to nine younger adults with a learning disability and/or autism.
It has seven ensuite bedrooms and a further two-bedroomed flat, accessible by stairs. The house has two large communal lounges and a dining room. It benefits from its own established garden and has car parking facilities.
The aim of the service is to promote personal autonomy; independence and achievement, ensuring people have the same rights and opportunities for inclusion, fulfilment and feeling valued in society as everyone else.
This inspection took place on 16 and 22 October 2015. The service was last inspected on18 June 2013 and was compliant with all of the regulations we assessed.
The service is required to have a registered manager. 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.
At the time of inspection there was no registered manager in place. The registered manager had left the service at the end of January 2015. A new manager had then been appointed and had applied to be registered with the Care Quality Commission, followed by a period of absence. An acting manager was appointed in the interim to cover this absence.
People who used the service had different levels of identified needs and received support from staff in relation to these, with some people receiving identified one to one support from designated staff.
People told us they felt included in decisions and discussions about their care and treatment. Staff described working together as a team, how they were dedicated to providing person-centred care and helping people to achieve their potential. Staff told us the acting manager led by example, had a very ‘hands on’ approach and was visible within the service, making themself accessible to all.
We found people lived in a safe environment. Risk assessments were completed to help minimise risks in specific circumstances such as when supporting people in the community or with day to day support within the home.
There were policies and procedures in place to guide staff and training for them in how to keep people safe from the risk of harm and abuse. In discussions, staff were clear about how they protected people from the risk of abuse.
We found staff were recruited in a safe way; all checks were in place before they started work and they received an induction. Staff received training and support to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to support the people who used the service. Training was based on best practice and guidance, so staff were provided with the most current information to support them in their work. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s health and welfare needs.
People’s nutritional needs were met and people were supported to shop for food supplies and were assisted to prepare meals. We saw staff monitored people’s health and responded quickly to any concerns.
The health and social care needs of people were assessed and personalised support plans were developed to guide staff in how to care for people who used the service using the least restrictive options. We saw people received their medicines as prescribed and had access to a range of professionals for advice, treatment and support.
People who used the service were encouraged to make their own decisions. Staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 when there were concerns people lacked capacity and important decisions needed to be made.
People participated in a range of vocational, educational and personal development programmes both in the local community at the organisation’s outreach facilities. They also completed activities within the service and were encouraged to follow and develop social interests and hobbies.
There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service, such as observations of staff practices, audits and surveys. A complaints process was in place which was accessible to people, relatives and others who used or visited the service.