Derwent Road

Updated 23 October 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Derwent Road 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 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and we needed to be sure the registered manager and staff would be available to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at the information we held about the service and used this to help us plan our inspection. We checked records held by Companies House. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 five members of staff including the registered manager, two assistant team leaders and two care workers. We observed care and support in communal areas. We reviewed a range of records, including three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including checks on the quality of care provided.

After the inspection

We spoke with three relatives, to ask about their experience of the care provided, because we had been unable to speak with people who used the service due to their complex needs. We also spoke with two health care professionals about their experience of the service. A health care professional is someone who has expertise in areas of health, such as nurses or consultant doctors.

Updated 23 October 2019

About the service

Derwent Road is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to six people living with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The service is made up of two adjoining bungalows, each with three bedrooms and communal facilities. At the time of our inspection visit there were six people receiving care.

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.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

People’s experience of using this service

The registered manager was open and honest, and worked in partnership with outside agencies to improve the service. There were checks in place to ensure good standards of care were maintained, however improvements were required to ensure all checks were effective. The registered manager had not sent us statutory notifications to notify us of restrictions placed on people's care, as they were required to do.

People felt safe using the service. Staff managed the risks to people’s health, safety and well-being and understood how to recognise and report abuse. Staff recruitment processes included background checks to review their suitability to work with vulnerable adults.

People received support from staff when needed. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their well-being. They were supported with their medicines and to obtain advice from healthcare professionals when required.

Staff had training to meet people’s needs and the registered manager shared guidance with staff on how to support people effectively.

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.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and maintain their independence.

People were treated with dignity and their independence was promoted wherever possible. They were encouraged to take part in activities which interested them and make new friends.

People had varying levels of understanding and abilities to communicate due to their complex needs. Staff communicated with people in a way which met their individual needs. People and their relatives were involved in planning care in their best interests. People and their families understood how to complain if they wanted to.

Rating at last inspection

The last inspection was a comprehensive inspection. The service was rated Good in all areas (report published 16 May 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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