Chestnut Street (59)

Updated 28 December 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 checked 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

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

Service and service type

Chestnut Street is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

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 two members of staff including a senior support worker and a support worker. We met one person who used the service and a relative. We observed short periods of interaction between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 28 December 2019

About the service

Chestnut Street is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to three people aged 18 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to three people whilst they attend Arden College in Southport.

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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to have 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 service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence and inclusion.

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.

We saw many examples where staff had supported people to become more independent, make choices and increase their physical and emotional wellbeing. Independent living skills learned whilst they attended Arden college were encouraged by staff to be put into practice. People had made significant achievements. This included personal care and daily activities such as laundry, cleaning their home, shopping, preparing snacks and drinks.

Chestnut Street is located in an area that enabled people using the service to participate in their own local community, for example, local restaurants and leisure activities.

Staff had developed effective communication with people. This meant that they were able to make their own decisions about their support; staff ensured they were supported to make choices on a day to day basis. Staff gave people the time they needed to make decisions and communicate them.

Risks that people faced had been assessed and those identified were safely managed. Medicines were managed safely. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities of keeping people safe from harm.

People were offered choice and control and where able consented to their support. People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink well. People were given a choice of suitable meals and snacks. Staff supported people to make meals of their choice throughout the week. People were supported to access healthcare when needed.

Staffing levels were appropriately managed, and people received support from consistent, regular staff. Enough staff were employed each day to meet people's needs, keep them safe and give them the opportunity to take part in their chosen activity.

Staff received a range of training appropriate to their role and people's needs, and were supported by the registered manager through regular supervision.

Effective systems were in place to check the quality and safety of the service. The environment was clean and safe and in a good state of repair and decoration.

The leadership of the service promoted a positive culture that was person-centred and inclusive. The registered manager and the staff team showed a desire to improve on the service provided and the quality of life experiences for the people at Chestnut Street.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (report published 28/06/2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information 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.