185 Watling St Road

Updated 19 February 2019

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.

This comprehensive unannounced inspection was carried out on 10 January 2019 by two adult social care inspectors from the Care Quality Commission and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience of the type of service being inspected. This expert had experience of being involved with mental health services.

At the time of our inspection there were six people who lived at 185 Watling Street Road. We were able to speak with all of them in order to obtain their views about the services and facilities provided.

We also spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager of the home. We toured the premises, viewing a selection of private accommodation and all communal areas. We observed the day-today activity within the home and we also looked at a wide range of records, including the personnel records of two staff members.

We looked at the care records of two people who lived at the home. Other records we saw included a variety of policies and procedures, training records, medication records and quality monitoring systems.

The provider sent us 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.

Prior to this inspection we looked at all the information we held about this service. We reviewed notifications of incidents that the provider had sent us since our last inspection and we asked local commissioners for their views about the service provided. We also requested feedback from 18 community professionals, such as social workers, consultants and community nurses.

We used a planning tool to collate all this evidence and information prior to visiting the home.

Updated 19 February 2019

185 Watling Street Road is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care home accommodates up to nine people in one adapted building. There were six people living in the home when we inspected.

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 10 January 2019. The service was last inspected on 26 April 2016 when there were no breaches in regulation seen and the home was rated as 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good' overall and 'Good' in all areas inspected.

There was no evidence or information from our inspection or on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. The service met all relevant fundamental standards. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At the time of this inspection a registered manager was in post. 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.

The service has continued to sustain a good standard of care and support for those who lived at the home. The provider, the management and staff team were constantly striving to improve the service and this is demonstrated by their commitment towards those who live at 185 Watling Street Road.

People were able to live as they chose and this philosophy was clearly embedded within the visions and values of the service. Staff had a good understanding of people's needs and were able to provide person centred care in a compassionate and dignified way, which enabled people to receive the support they needed in the way they preferred.

People were supported to have maximum 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.

There was clear evidence of a solid management structure and a dedicated team approach, which continued to drive the service forward, in order to provide a good standard of care and support. Staff who had shown particular interests in specific areas, such as safeguarding, dignity, health and well-being and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) were designated 'Champions'. These champions continued to play an essential role in developing best practice, sharing learning and acting as role models for other staff.

People who lived at 185 Watling Street Road told us they felt safe living at the home. Medicines were being appropriately managed and we found the environment to be clean, well maintained and safe for people to live in. Risk assessments had been conducted where necessary and staff we spoke with were confident to report any concerns about people's safety to the appropriate authorities.

Recruitment practices were robust and new staff were guided through an induction programme, followed by regular mandatory training modules throughout their employment.

There were sufficient staff on duty, who were kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people who used the service. We saw that people looked comfortable in the presence of staff members and seemed relaxed within their environment.

People were assisted in a gentle and supportive way. We noted that a homely and peaceful environment had been created for people to live in. Staff we spoke with all told us they were happy working at the home.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.