This inspection took place on the 17 January 2017. Our visit was unannounced.Roman Park provides accommodation and support for up to 14 people who have mental health needs, learning difficulties or autistic spectrum disorders. On the day of our inspection there were 12 people living at the service.
The service had 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 told us they felt safe living at Roman Park. Relatives we spoke with told us that their relations were safe living there. The staff team knew their responsibilities for keeping people safe from avoidable harm and knew what to do if they were concerned about anyone.
People’s care and support needs had been identified and the associated risks had been assessed and managed. Where risks had been identified these had, where ever possible, been minimised to better protect people’s health and welfare.
Plans of care had been developed for each person using the service and the staff team knew the needs of the people they were supporting well.
People felt there were currently enough members of staff on duty each day because their care and support needs were being met.
Recruitment checks had been carried out when new members of staff had been employed. This was to check that they were suitable to work at the service. The staff team had received relevant training and on-going support through supervisions and appraisals had been provided by the management team.
People received their medicines as prescribed and in a safe way. Medicines were being appropriately stored and the necessary records were being kept. There were appropriate systems in place to audit the management of medicines.
People's nutritional and dietary requirements had been identified. People had been nvolved in the development of the menus that were in place and these catered for their individual needs and preferences.
People were supported to maintain good health. They had access to relevant healthcare services such as doctors, opticians and community nurses and they received on going healthcare support.
The staff team involved people in making day to day decisions about their care and support and they understood their responsibilities with regard to gaining people’s consent.
The people using the service and the relatives we spoke with told us that the staff team knew them well and knew what help and support they needed. They told us that the staff team were friendly, kind and caring and observations during our visit confirmed this.
Systems were in place to gather the views of the people using the service. Monthly meetings had been held and these provided everyone with an opportunity to be involved in how the service was run.
People using the service knew what to do if they were worried about anything. A formal complaints process was in place and people were regularly reminded of this so that they could be supported if they needed to use it.
Staff members we spoke with felt supported by the registered manager. They told us that they had the opportunity to meet with a member of the management team on a one to one basis to discuss their progress. They also told us that there was always someone available for support and advice should they need it.
There were systems in place to regularly monitor the quality and safety of the service being provided. Audits on the documentation held had been completed and checks on the environment and on the equipment used to maintain people's safety had been carried out. A business continuity plan was available for the staff team to follow in the event of an emergency or untoward event.
The registered manager and the management team were aware of their registration responsibilities including notifying CQC of significant incidents that occurred at the service.