Archived: Elysian House

Updated 3 September 2015

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 inspection took place on 18 June 2015 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service, this included notifications received from the service and other information of concern, including safeguarding notifications.

We observed interactions between people who used the service and staff. We talked to four people using the service, one visitor, and three staff members including the registered manager. We reviewed care records and risk assessments for four people using the service. Each person had a 'My support plan,' which detailed how they were to be supported. Such as, ways to structure their day and activities they would like to take part in. We reviewed training records and staff personnel files for five staff and reviewed medicine management records for three people.

Updated 3 September 2015

We carried out an unannounced inspection on the 18 June 2015.

Elysian House provides short-term, therapeutic support and accommodation for 12 people experiencing a mental health crisis. The service uses a recovery model of care and support. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service.

There is 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.

At our last inspection on 2 January 2014 we found the service meeting the standards inspected.

Staff supported people to maintain their safety. Assessments were undertaken to identify any risks to a person’s safety and management plans were in place to address those risks. Staff were aware of signs and symptoms that might suggest a person is becoming unwell. People were supported as appropriate to maintain their physical and mental health. People had support plans detailing the support they needed and the support they required from staff.

Staff worked with the community mental health team to ensure support was co-ordinated and appropriate to people’s needs. On the day of our visit we observed some good interactions between staff and people living at the service. People told us that staff were caring and kind. People were given choice and their individual needs were being met by the service. Staff were caring and kind when interacting or assisting people.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy maintained. We saw that staff knocked on people’s doors and gave people time to respond before entering.

Staff encouraged people to be independent, we saw that people had access to kitchen facilities and prepared meals for themselves. People staying at the service had capacity to self-administer their own medicines. We saw that there was a system in place to keep medicines safe. The service acted immediately to ensure the well-being of one person who had run out of their medicines.

Staff had the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs, and had attended regular training. Staff told us that they felt supported by their manager and felt able to raise concerns. Recruitment processes ensured that staff were safe to work with people because the provider had carried out the necessary checks.

Systems for monitoring the quality of the service were effective. People were asked their views on the service.