Archived: Cardinals Gate

Updated 9 March 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is 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.

This inspection took place on 18 & 21 November 2014 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

This inspection was completed by an inspector. Before the inspection we asked the provider to complete and return a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. The provider completed and returned the PIR form to us and we used this information as part of our inspection planning.

We looked at other information that we held about the service including notifications, which are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to inform us about.

During the inspection we spoke with two members of staff and the manager. We observed the way staff and people in the home interacted. We spoke with three people living in the home and the relatives of two people who lived in the home. We spoke with the social worker of one person supported in the home.

As part of this inspection we looked at two people’s support plans and care records. We reviewed two staff recruitment, induction and training files. We looked at other records such as accidents and incidents, complaints and compliments, medication administration records, quality monitoring and audit information, policies and procedures, and fire and safety records.

Updated 9 March 2015

Cardinals Gate is a registered care home which provides accommodation, support and non-nursing care for up to six people living with learning disabilities, autism or mental health issues. Nursing care is not provided. At the time of our inspection there were four people living at the home. The home is located in Werrington near Peterborough and accommodation is provided in a large bungalow. There are six individual bedrooms, communal areas, including a dining room and lounge, for people and their visitors and a large garden.

This announced inspection took place on 18 & 21 November 2014 and was undertaken by one inspector. The last inspection took place on 8 May 2013 where we found the provider was meeting the regulations we looked at.

The home has a registered manager in post. 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 kept safe because staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the impact for people in the home who could be subject to the Act. Best interest assessments had been completed for people who lacked capacity.

Staff received a comprehensive induction and were supported in their roles through regular supervision and annual appraisals.

People’s health and care needs were assessed and reviewed. People had access to a wide variety of health professionals who were requested appropriately and who provided information and plans to maintain people’s health and wellbeing.

People’s relatives and staff told us they would be confident raising any concerns or complaints with the management and that action would be taken. Relatives advocated on behalf of people in the home, but information was available about independent advocates together with easy read information so that people could be supported to raise concerns.

People were encouraged in their individual social activities and interests by staff who understood and supported them.

Relatives of people in the home were very happy with the staff and manager and were kept up to date about their family member’s health and welfare. They were included in any meetings, which they attended when possible, and they felt that the staff listened to them and acted on any requests or comments for their family member.

The provider had an effective quality assurance system in place which it used to help drive improvements to people’s care and the home they lived in.