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Archived: Hill End Lane

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

35 - 37 Hill End Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0TX (01727) 811906

Provided and run by:
New Directions Flexible Social Care Solutions Ltd

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Background to this inspection

Updated 17 August 2018

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.

We carried out this inspection on the 6 and 10 July 2018. The inspection was unannounced and was undertaken by one inspector.

Before the inspection, reviewed all the information we have in relation to this service. The provider had completed 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 improvements they plan to make. We reviewed other information we have relating to the service. We received feedback from commissioners, and reviewed notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We found that no recent concerns had been raised.

During the inspection we spoke with two people who lived at the service, two care practitioners, the recruitment administrator and the registered manager.

We observed interactions between staff and the people living at the service. We reviewed care records and risk management plans for two people who lived at the service, and checked other records relating to people’s support plans which included medicines administration records to ensure these were accurate and completed correctly. We looked at two staff recruitment files and the training records for all the staff employed at the service to ensure that staff training was up to date. We also reviewed additional information on how the quality of the service was monitored and managed.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 17 August 2018

Hill End Lane provides accommodation, care and support for up to seven males with a learning disability and or a mental health diagnosis. At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the service.

At the last inspection on 05 November 2016, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service has 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 felt safe being supported at the service. Staff were knowledgeable about how to protect people from harm. They had received effective safeguarding training.

There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs when required. Safe recruitment processes were in place to help ensure that staff were suitable to work in this type of service.

Staff had received training and an ongoing support to help with their development. Staff were positive about the training and support they received.

People were involved in the development and review of their care and how it was provided. People had detailed care plans which clearly documented their individual needs, preferences and choices. Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing had been assessed and there were effective risk management plans in place which mitigated risk. All care plans and risk assessments had been regularly reviewed to ensure that they were reflective of people's current needs.

People were supported to make decisions about their care and support. Decisions made on behalf of people were in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Consent was gained from people before any support was provided.

People were supported to access a range of health care professionals to help maintain their health and wellbeing. Care plans detailed people’s support needs in relation to their health. There were effective systems in place for the safe storage and management of medicine and regular audits were completed. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People had positive relationships with staff who supported them. Staff were supportive and respectful. People's privacy and dignity was maintained and respected. Staff knew people's needs and preferences and provided personalised support. People were supported to participate in meaningful activities and hobbies that were of interest to them.

People and staff found the registered manager supportive and approachable and were very positive about how they managed the service. People felt listened to and said that staff were responsive to any concerns they raised. Quality monitoring systems and processes were used effectively to make improvements when required.