Background to this inspection
Updated
6 November 2019
The inspection
We carried out our inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. Our inspection checked whether the provider was 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
Pontensial Limited - 31 is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At the time of our inspection, the registered manager had recently left the service. 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.
The provider had appointed an acting manager to manage the service.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with a senior support worker and a support worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and their medication records.
We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with a relative who regularly visited the service.
Updated
6 November 2019
About the service
Potensial Limited - 31 is a residential care service that provides accommodation and support for a maximum of four adults living with a learning disability. It accommodates people across two floors.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was based in a domestic style property. It was registered for the support of up to four people. At the time of our inspection, there were three people living at the service. This is in line with current best practice guidance. The building fitted into the residential area and other domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People using this service benefitted from a caring and homely environment. We received positive feedback on how staff supported and cared for people.
People genuinely considered Potensial as their own home and had complete autonomy over their own lives.
People and their relatives had confidence in the staff who took care of them. People received care from long standing members of staff who had developed genuine relationships with the people they supported.
Staff were caring and supportive but took care to encourage and maintain people’s independence. Staff were familiar with the individual needs, routines and preferences of the people they supported.
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.
People were supported in a way that allowed them maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the home supported this practice.
People participated in activities and pastimes which were meaningful to them, both in the local and wider community. The service was situated in a location which meant people were able to easily access local facilities and public transport. Staff took the time to get to know what people enjoyed doing and supported them to engage in individualised activities and pastimes.
People were treated with the utmost dignity and respect. People's protected characteristics, such as gender, cultural and spiritual needs were both valued and respected.
Staff were supported in their role with appropriate training and supervision. Most staff had received additional training to meet the specific needs of the people they supported.
Regular checks and audits were carried out to determine the quality and safety of the environment. Risk to people was appropriately assessed and measures were put in place to support people safely, whilst still respecting their freedom.
The acting manager and registered provider had met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Feedback about the overall management of the service from people, their relatives and staff was positive. It was evident they promoted a person-centred and inclusive culture within the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at last inspection
At our last inspection, the service was rated "Good." (Report published May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the last inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.