Archived: Dimensions 2 Buckby Lane

Updated 17 April 2018

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, looked at the overall quality of the service, and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014. A service provider is the legal organisation responsible for carrying on the adult social care services we regulate.

This unannounced inspection of 2, Buckby Lane, Basingstoke took place on 22 February, 2018. When planning the inspection visit we took account of the size of the service and that some people at the home could find unfamiliar visitors unsettling. As a result this inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection the 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. We reviewed the information included in the PIR along with information we held about the service, for example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We also reviewed information contained within the provider’s website.

During our inspection we spoke with four people living at the home, some of whom had limited verbal communication. We used a range of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service who were not always able to tell us about their experience. These included observations and pathway tracking. Pathway tracking is a process which enables us to look in detail at the care received by an individual in the home. We pathway tracked the care of three people.

Throughout the inspection we observed how staff interacted and cared for people across the course of the day, including mealtimes, during activities and when medicines were administered. We spoke with the staff including the registered manager and seven staff, including three night staff.

We reviewed each person’s care records, which included their daily notes, care plans and medicine administration records (MARs). We looked at eight staff recruitment, supervision and training files. We examined the provider’s records which demonstrated how people’s care reviews, staff supervisions, appraisals and required training were arranged.

We also looked at the provider’s policies and procedures and other records relating to the management of the service, such as staff rotas covering January and February 2018, health and safety audits, medicine management audits, infection control audits, emergency contingency plans and minutes of staff meetings. We considered how people’s, relatives’ and staff comments were used to drive improvements in the service.

Following the visit we spoke with the relatives of three people and two health and social care professionals. These health and social care professionals were involved in the support of people living at the home. We also spoke with the commissioners of people’s care.

Updated 17 April 2018

Dimensions 2, Buckby Lane Way is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home provides accommodation and personal care to a maximum of four people who live with a learning disability, autism and/or associated health needs, who may experience behaviours that challenge staff. At the time of inspection four people were living at the home. The home had been developed and adapted in line with values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can lead as ordinary life as any citizen.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 22 February 2018. The inspection was unannounced, which meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were kept safe from harm and staff knew what to do in order to maintain their safety. Risks to people were assessed and action was taken to minimise potential risks. Medicines were managed safely by trained staff and administered as prescribed. There were always enough staff deployed with the right mix of skills to make sure that care practice was delivered safely and to respond to unforeseen events. Staff underwent relevant pre- employment checks to ensure they were suitable to support people living with a learning disability.

Staff received training and supervision to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge, which enabled them to support people and meet their needs effectively. Staff applied the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in their day to day care practice. This ensured people’s rights were protected. People were supported to have a healthy balanced diet and had access to the food and drink of their choice, when they wanted it. The environment was personalised to meet people's individual needs and the provider ensured all required specialist adaptive equipment needed to support people effectively was available.

People experienced positive caring relationships with staff who consistently treated them with kindness and compassion in their day-to-day care. Staff supervisions and competency assessments ensured that people experienced care which respected their privacy and dignity, whilst protecting their human rights. Meaningful relationships developed within the home had a positive impact on people’s wellbeing. Staff encouraged people to do as much for themselves as possible and to experience new things to promote their independence.

People experienced care that was flexible and responsive to their individual needs and preferences. People’s care plans were person centred and detailed how their assessed needs were to be supported by staff.

Staff made sure that people could maintain relationships that mattered to them and encouraged social contact and companionship which protected people from the risk of social isolation and loneliness.

People and their relatives were given the opportunity to give feedback on the service during care reviews, meetings and feedback surveys. The service used the learning from feedback and complaints as an opportunity to drive improvement in the quality of care provided.

The service was well led. Quality assurance systems monitored the quality of service being delivered and action plans drove continuous improvement in the service.