Background to this inspection
Updated
6 December 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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
College Road is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care. Care Quality Commission (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. 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Prior to the inspection we reviewed information and evidence we already held about this service, which had been collected via our ongoing monitoring of care services. This included notifications sent to us by the service. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the provider is legally obliged to send to us without delay. We also viewed the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public and local authorities.
During the inspection
We were not able to speak with people because of their complex needs. We attempted to contact people's relatives and were able to speak with one relative. We also spoke with two advocates who worked with two people who lived at the home. We spoke with six members of staff including, the registered manager, assistant manager, service director and three support staff. We reviewed a range of records, including recruitment information and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received information relating to the provider’s governance systems and some care records. This information was used as part of our inspection.
Updated
6 December 2019
About the service
College Road is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care to three people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Safeguarding procedures were in place, which staff were aware of. We also saw staff had been recruited safely. There were enough staff deployed to keep people safe. Risks to people had been identified, assessed and reviewed. There were measures to reduce risk. We observed good practice in relation to the management of medicines.
People’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life. People’s needs had been assessed before they used the service. They received care that was informed by reputable national guidance. Their assessments considered individual requirements and preferences. Staff received training, professional development, supervision and appraisal to enable them to carry out their duties. People’s care records showed relevant health and social care professionals were involved in their care.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people were unable to make decisions about their care and support, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.
The service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. People had access to support and care regardless of their individual circumstances. People were from different cultural and religious backgrounds and the service understood and addressed their needs. Their likes and dislikes had been recorded in their support plans. People’s privacy was promoted, including the way information was handled. Staff maintained people's independence by supporting them to manage as many aspects of their care as they could.
The service met people’s needs. People received person centred care. People’s care plans outlined their abilities, and the support required to ensure they had control, choice, and independence. People who displayed behaviours that challenged had specific care plans outlining what this meant to them and how it affected them. People’s communication needs had been considered, which ensured they lived meaningful life through increased involvement, choice and independence.
There was a complaints procedure in place, which people’s relatives were aware of. Quality assurance processes such as audits, accidents and incidents, were used to drive improvements.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 6 April 2018).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.