22 July and 5 August 2015
During a routine inspection
The inspection took place on the 22 July and 5 August 2015.
Long Lane is one of a number of services owned by Family Mosaic Housing. The service provides accommodation and support for up to four people who have a learning disability.
The service does not at present have a registered manager, but the person presently managing the service has applied for registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 treated with dignity and respect and staff interacted with people in a kind, caring and sensitive manner. Staff showed a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect people.
There was a regular and consistent staff team. The provider had appropriate recruitment checks in place which helped to protect people and ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. There were sufficient numbers of skilled, well trained and qualified staff on duty. Staff told us that they felt well supported in their role and we saw that staff had received regular supervision and training.
We found that detailed assessments had been carried out and that the care plans were very well developed around each individual’s needs and preferences. We saw that there were risk assessments in place and plans on how the risks were to be managed. People were supported with taking every day risks and encouraged to take part in daily activities and outings. We saw that appropriate assessments had been carried out where people living at the service were not able to make decisions for themselves, to help ensure their rights were protected.
People looked happy and relaxed with staff. They were able to raise concerns and there were systems in place to ensure people could be confident they would be listened to and appropriate action taken.
People’s medication was well managed and this helped to ensure that people received their medication safely. They were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs and were offered choice. We also found that people’s healthcare was good. People had access to a range of healthcare providers such as their GP, dentists, chiropodists and opticians.
The provider had an effective quality assurance systems in place. People had some opportunity to feedback on their experiences. Staff tried to involve people in day to day decisions and the running of the service. The service was well managed.