Background to this inspection
Updated
5 April 2019
The inspection:
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 was 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.
Inspection team:
This inspection was carried out by one bank inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The area of expertise was in relation to learning disability and associated complex needs.
Service and service type:
Royal Mencap Society Broad Oaks is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had two managers 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. 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 registered manager understood their responsibilities and sent us the information they were required to such as notifications of changes or incidents that affected people who used the service.
Notice of inspection:
This inspection visit was undertaken on 12 March 2019 and was unannounced.
What we did:
Before the inspection, the registered provider completed 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 registered provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made our judgements in this report.
We reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the registered provider is required to tell us about. We considered the last inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other
agencies. We also had contact with commissioners who had a contract with the registered provider.
We spoke with seven people who used the service and observed how staff interacted with them. We also spoke with two registered managers, six support workers, two visiting health professionals and the area operations manager.
We looked at the support records for two people who used the service. We looked at records in relation to the management of the service such as quality assurance checks, staff training records, audits and accidents and incident information.
Updated
5 April 2019
About the service:
Royal Mencap Society Broad Oaks provides accommodation, care and support for up to 17 people who experience learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. There were 15 people living at home at the time of the inspection.
The service worked within the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensured that people could 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’s experience of using this service:
At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.
People continued to be kept as safe as possible because staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to keeping people safe from harm and abuse. Potential risks to people had been recognised and information on how to minimise risks had been recorded as guidance for staff to follow. People received their prescribed medicines, which were managed safely. There were enough staff on duty with the right mix of skills to meet people’s support needs.
People continued to receive an effective service because their needs were met by staff who were well trained and supported to do their job. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the home support this practice. People's nutritional needs were met by staff who knew each person's needs well. People’s health and wellbeing was maintained and they had access to a range of health and social care professionals.
People continued to receive good care because staff treated people with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect. People had choices in all aspects of their daily lives and could continue with interests, activities and friendships outside the home. Staff ensured people remained as independent as possible.
People continued to receive a service that was responsive. People and their relatives (where agreed) were involved in their personalised support plans and reviews. The information about them in relation to their care and support was up to date. People were encouraged to take part in a range of activities that they enjoyed and were the choice of the person at that time. This helped promote social inclusion.
People continued to receive a service that was well led. Quality assurance systems were used to check that the staff provided quality care and the managers made improvements where necessary. People were encouraged to share their views about the quality of the care provided.
Rating at last inspection:
Good. The last inspection report was published on 24 June 2016.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned comprehensive inspection that was scheduled to take place in line with Care Quality Commission (CQC) scheduling guidelines for adult social care services.
Follow up:
We will review the service in line with our methodology for 'Good' services.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk