Archived: Serlby Close

Updated 8 July 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 inspection took place on 8 and 13 June 2017 and was unannounced. This meant the provider and staff did not know we were coming. This was the first inspection of the service since registration in May 2016.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally required to let us know about. The provider was asked to complete 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. The provider submitted a PIR which we used when planning the inspection. We also contacted the local authority safeguarding team, commissioners of the service, the clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the local Healthwatch to gain their views of the service.

We spent time with people in the communal areas and in their rooms. We observed the meal time experience and staff interactions during the visit. We spent time speaking with one person who used the service. Where people using the service were not able to converse with us we used facial expressions and gestures to ascertain their views. One relative visited the service to speak with us. We spoke with two relatives by telephone to gain their views of the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and four support workers. We looked at the care records for three people, medicine records for five people and a range of records in relation to the management of the service.

Updated 8 July 2017

We inspected Serlby Close on 8 and 13 June 2017. The inspection was unannounced, this meant the provider and staff did not know we were coming.

Serlby Close provides accommodation for up to eight people who require personal care. The service accommodates adults over the age of 18 with learning disabilities. The service is purpose built over two floors and has a range of communal areas for people to use, including an enclosed garden for people and their relatives. There were eight people using the service at the time of the inspection.

The service had a registered manager 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 provider had a safe recruitment procedure in place. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to support people with their assessed needs. Risks to people were assessed and plans put in place to mitigate any identified risks. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe management of medicines. Staff who were responsible for managing medicines had their competency to do so checked regularly.

Staff were supervised in their roles and received an annual appraisal to aide their personal development. The provider had a training matrix in place to ensure staff were trained and skilled to meet the needs of the people using the service. People were provided with a healthy diet to meet their nutritional needs.

The Commission has responsibility to assess the application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We found people were being supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. DoLS authorisations were in place for people and staff supported people to make as many of their own decisions as possible. The provider had policies and procedures in place for staff guidance in the application of the MCA.

People were supported by kind and caring staff. Staff were respectful and treated people with dignity. Staff discussed their actions with people before providing support and gained consent before they carried out any interventions. Staff knew people well and were knowledgeable about their likes, dislikes and preferences. Pictorial information was available for people to meet their communication needs. Staff used a range of methods to communicate with people.

People were supported to maintain their health and well-being and had access to healthcare professionals when necessary.

Care plans were personalised and reviewed and evaluated regularly to ensure support was up to date. People were involved in planning their support.

Staff supported people to access the local community for a range of activities. People were supported to take part in hobbies and interests both in the home and the community. People were supported to go on holidays and spend time with their families during overnight and weekend stays.

The provider had a quality assurance system in place. Meetings with people and staff were held regularly. The provider had policies and procedures in place to manage complaints.

Serlby Close was spacious, clean and well-maintained. People had access to communal areas with a range of seating.

Relevant checks of the building and maintenance systems were completed to ensure the safety of the premises. Environmental risks were assessed and guidance was available for staff to mitigate risks. People had Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) in place for staff to use in case of an emergency.