Valley Road

Updated 21 March 2019

The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: There was one inspector in the inspection team.

Service and service type: Valley Road is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission, who had recently transferred to manage another of the provider's services. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. However, a new manager had been employed and had worked at the service since September 2018. The new manager was in the process of applying to CQC to be registered.

Notice of inspection: We gave the service short notice on the day of our inspection to ensure the manager and staff were available to talk with us when we visited.

Inspection site visit activity started and ended on 25 February 2019. We visited the office location to see the manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

What we did: We checked records held by Companies House. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection: We spoke with one relative to ask about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with the new manager, a team leader and four members of care staff. Many people who used the service had complex needs and could not communicate verbally, so instead, we spoke with people who knew them well and following the inspection visit we spoke with six more relatives.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care records and two people’s medicine records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home. These included systems for managing any complaints, checks undertake on the health and safety of the home and compliments received.

Updated 21 March 2019

About the service:

Valley Road provides short respite accommodation to people who have learning disabilities and complex health needs. The care home is a ground floor building and is registered to provide care for up to four people. However, a maximum of three people could currently stay at the service due to ongoing maintenance work. Nobody resides at the care home on a permanent basis. At the time of our inspection visit there were two people staying at the service. The service is currently provided to fifteen people.

People’s experience of using this service:

• Improvements had been made since our previous inspection to the way the quality and safety of the service was managed and processes were improved for people in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

• People felt safe using the service.

• Staff recognised the risks to people’s health, safety and well-being and understood how to recognise and report abuse.

• People had access to support from staff when needed.

• Staff recruitment processes included a check of their background to review their suitability to work at the service.

• People received support with the medicines. Regular checks were undertaken to ensure people received the correct medicines by staff who were competent to support them.

• Staff understood and practised infection control techniques and had access to protective equipment to promote this.

•The registered manager ensured people’s care was based on best practice and staff had training to meet people’s needs.

• Staff training was reviewed and guidance on people’s needs was also shared through supervision meetings and group staff meetings.

• People were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their well-being.

• People were supported to obtain advice from healthcare professionals, which was incorporated into people’s care.

• Staff worked within the principles of the MCA. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

• The service applied the principles and values of 'Registering the Right Support' and other best practice guidance.

• Staff understood the importance of supporting people with empathy and compassion and provided reassurance when people became anxious.

• People were treated with dignity and their independence was promoted wherever possible.

• People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care with support.

• Staff supported people with activities that reflected their interests and were encouraged to explore new opportunities for people to experience.

• People and their families understood how to complain if they wanted to.

• A new manager was in post since our last inspection and staff recognised there had been changes in the way the service was managed.

• Relatives and staff worked together to ensure people’s care was continually monitored, reviewed and reflected people’s needs.

• Senior staff worked with external organisations to develop the service they provided.

We found the service met the characteristics of a 'Good' rating in all areas; More information is available in the full report.

Rating at last inspection:

Requires Improvement with breaches of the Health and Social Care 2008 (HCSA 2008) Regulations 11 and 17 (29 March 2018)

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The inspection was to monitor improvements to the service the provider had promised to make to address breaches of regulations 11 and 17 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.