287 Dyke Road

Updated 21 December 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

287 Dyke Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Registered managers 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

We gave a short notice period of the inspection. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to be sure that no-one at the service was displaying any symptoms of the virus and needed to know about the provider’s infection control procedures to make sure we worked in line with their guidance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to limit the time we spent at the service.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with four members of staff, including the registered manager, the regional manager and two care staff. People living at the service were not able to fully verbalise their views with us. Due to people's needs, we spent time observing people with staff supporting them.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, medicine records, and further records relating to the quality assurance of the service, including audits and training records.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives by telephone to gain further feedback around the care delivered.

Updated 21 December 2021

About the service

287 Dyke Road is a residential care home that provides care and accommodation for people with physical and learning disabilities. It was registered for the support of up to eight people. Eight people were living at the service on the day of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was registered before Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture was developed. The service had not been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The guidance 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.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting most of the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

• The service was a large domestic property, that was bigger than would be considered in line with current best practice guidelines. However, the provider had made the service homely and welcoming. People received personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences. People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination because staff knew what actions to take if they identified concerns. There were enough staff working to provide the support people needed. Staff understood the risks associated with the people they supported. Risk assessments provided guidance for staff about individual and environmental risks. People received their medicines safely, when they needed them.

Right care:

• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People’s individual needs and choices were recognised, and respected. This had been effective in supporting people to achieve goals and encouraged them to learn and grow as individuals. People were supported to have 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.

Right culture:

• Despite the need to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic taking priority, the provider and staff had worked hard to develop good leadership. Quality monitoring systems had been embedded and morale was good amongst the staff team. We received positive feedback in relation to the care people received and how the service was run. One relative told us, “I’m very happy with what they do for [my relative], he has very challenging needs that I couldn’t manage, but they do.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the provider had ensured that appropriate infection control procedures were in place to keep people safe. This included increased cleaning and ensuring adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) were available. Staff completed training in relation to COVID-19. We were assured the provider managed infection prevention and control through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs and preferences. They received training, regular supervision and attended team meetings to support them in their roles. People's nutritional and hydrational needs were met. There was regular involvement from health and social care professionals, who spoke positively about the support people received.

We observed a kind and caring culture. Relatives and professionals spoke positively about the support staff gave to people. We observed positive interactions between people and staff throughout the inspection.

People’s care plans were personalised and gave staff the information they needed to support people. Staff received training and support from the provider’s positive behaviour support team which ensured there was a person-centred approach to supporting people. Health care professional input was accessed when required and people’s nutrition and hydration needs were met. We saw people were supported with their communication needs and their preferred activities in accordance with their care plans.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 1 December 2020. This is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was the first inspection for this service.

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.