Archived: Carlton And Pelham House

Carlton and Pelham House is located in the Undercliffe area of Bradford, providing care and support to younger adults with learning disabilities. Accommodation is provided in two adjoining residential properties, each able to accommodate a maximum of four people in single en-suite bedrooms. On the day of our inspection, four people were living at the service; two people living in Carlton House and two people living in Pelham House.

A registered manager was in position. 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.

On the day of our inspection, the registered manager was absent and the service was being supported by the area manager and group governance lead.

People living at the service told us they felt safe and staff we spoke with confirmed this. Staff had received safeguarding training and told us how they would identify and report safeguarding concerns. Risk assessments had been completed to mitigate risks to people's safety. We saw evidence of consent and best interests meetings where appropriate.

The premises was clean, well maintained and appropriate safety checks were in place.

Effective recruitment processes were in place and appropriate staff training was up to date. Staffing levels were good and responsive to the needs of the people living at the service. Regular staff supervisions and annual appraisals took place.

There was a robust system for monitoring and detailing accidents and incidents with lessons learned and action plans formulated where required.

Medicines were safely managed and medicines audit systems were in place. Only one person was receiving support with their medicines on the day of the inspection.

The service was complying with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported with their dietary requirements and health and social care needs.

We observed staff treated people with dignity and respect and people were involved in the planning of their care. Staff knew people well and people's personal preferences were taken into account wherever possible.

The service promoted a high degree of independence among the people living at the service and goal planning was evident in people's care records.

Care records were person centred and updated regularly. We saw evidence care plans were put into practice by staff.

People living at the service were given opportunities for activities according to personal choice.

The service had a complaints procedure in place although no official complaints had been made recently.

Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and able to approach them with any concerns or issues. Regular staff meetings were held.

People living at the service were offered resident's meetings although preferred to feedback information through monthly and annual resident's surveys.

We saw a wide range of audit and quality assurance processes in place with analysis and action plans where needed.

We found there was a complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and/or their representatives were encouraged to express their views and opinions about the care and support provided. We also found staff were aware of their responsibility to safeguard people who used the service from any form of abuse and always sought people's consent before they provided care, support or treatment.

We spoke with two people who used the service. They told us they were happy living at Carlton and Pelham House and said the staff were approachable and listened to them if they had a problem. One person said "staff support me to go out into the community which I enjoy and encourage me to do lots of different activities." Another person said "I enjoy living here, the staff are really good and l feel safe."

Two people told us how staff supported them to clean their room and do their laundry. Another person who completed a survey of the service from August 2012 made the following comment, 'I feel it's clean, I feel at home, it's the best home I have lived in'.

Three people who used the service told us most staff were good. We viewed quality questionnaires completed by people and their relatives in August 2012. Out of seven responses, three people made negative comments about staff. However, four people made positive comments. One person said 'the staff are very friendly, empathetic and give me plenty of time'. Another person said 'I feel staff are all friendly and treat me how I want to be treated'.

Two people told us they had attended a meeting held for people who lived at the home in October 2012. They said staff asked them how they would like to improve things.

Despite the positive comments people had made, we found evidence that there had not been sufficient staff with the necessary experience to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service.