The inspection took place on 3 and 5 November 2015 and was unannounced. Blue Cedars provides residential accommodation and care for up to six people with learning and/ or physical disabilities, including people with autistic spectrum disorder. All six people were living in the home at the time of our inspection. The home is a two storey building. People were able to access all areas of the home and garden as they wished, using a lift between floors.
The home had 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.
People were protected from the risk of abuse, because support workers understood and followed processes to protect people from harm and report any concerns. Risks affecting individuals’ health or wellbeing had been identified, and measures put into place to reduce the risk of harm. Servicing and checks of the home environment protected people and others from potential risks in the home.
There were sufficient support workers available to meet people’s care needs safely. Rosters were planned to ensure people were able to attend the activities they wanted to. The provider’s recruitment process protected people from the risk of support from unsuitable staff.
Support workers were trained to ensure they followed safe medicine administration processes. They understood how and when to report concerns, and ensured people were supported to take their prescribed medicines at the correct times to protect them from ill health.
Support workers completed and refreshed training to ensure they could support people effectively. Regular supervision and competency assessment ensured support workers demonstrated the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs.
People’s consent was sought to ensure they were cared for as they wanted. Support workers understood and followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to make a decision in a person’s best interest where they lacked the capacity to make an informed decision for themselves. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards protected people from unlawful restrictions in the home.
People were supported to eat and drink sufficiently to protect them from the risks of malnutrition and dehydration. Support workers understood risks affecting people’s nutrition, such as choking and poor intake, and followed people’s plans of care to protect them from harm. People were supported to access health treatment as necessary.
Support workers cared about people’s wellbeing. People turned to support workers for reassurance when they were upset or required assistance. People and support workers sang, joked and laughed together. They appeared to enjoy each other’s company.
People were involved in daily care and activities, as they were offered choice in all aspects of their care, such as meals, activities and daily living tasks. People’s privacy and dignity was protected, because support workers treated them with respect.
People experienced care that met their identified needs and wishes. They and others important to them were involved in care reviews to ensure changes were identified and managed appropriately. Risks affecting their health or welfare were managed to promote their wellbeing.
People and their relatives had opportunities to raise and discuss concerns through meetings and surveys. The registered manager resolved concerns effectively, which meant formal complaints had not been made. The provider’s complaints policy described how these would be dealt with appropriately should the need arise.
People experienced care in line with the provider’s values of promoting independence, supporting people respectfully, and providing individualised care. People and those representing them had opportunities to influence the care they received through meetings and discussions.
Relatives and support workers spoke positively about the registered manager, describing her as open and supportive.
Audits and a monthly operational meeting were used to identify areas of concern. Actions were implemented to address issues identified to drive improvements to the quality of care people experienced.