Archived: New Prospects Association Limited - 53 Kilburn Gardens

Updated 4 June 2016

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.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We visited the service on 24 March 2016. The inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice because people and staff were often out in the local community and we wanted to make sure that someone would be in.

We spoke with two of the three people who used the service. We spoke with three relatives following our visit to obtain their views of the service.

We spoke with the nominated individual who was also the head of services, the special projects manager, the registered manager, four support workers and the provider's administrator. We examined two care plans and records relating to staff. In addition, we checked records relating to the management of the service such as audits and surveys.

We consulted a nurse practitioner, community learning disability nurse and a social worker. We also conferred with a local authority safeguarding officer, a commissioning manager and a local authority contracts officer. We used their comments to support this inspection.

We checked information which we had received about the service prior to our inspection. This included notifications which the provider had sent us.

We did not request a provider information return (PIR) prior to the inspection. 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.

Updated 4 June 2016

The inspection took place on 24 March 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice because staff and people were often out in the local community and we wanted to make sure someone would be in.

We last inspected the service in May 2014 where we found that they were meeting all the regulations we inspected.

New Prospects Association Limited - 53 Kilburn Gardens provides accommodation, care and support for up to three people who have learning disabilities. There were three people using the service at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

People, relatives and staff were extremely complimentary about the provider and management of the service. One staff member said, “It’s a very good company, our CEO is brilliant – really driven about their [people] needs.” The manager led by example and was “hands on” with all aspects of the service. There was a strong emphasis on continually striving to improve. The manager, staff and people carried out a number of checks to monitor the quality and safety of the service.

Staff were highly motivated and demonstrated a clear commitment to providing dignified and compassionate care and support. They told us that they enjoyed working at the service and morale was excellent.

The service used inclusive ways to enable people to be empowered and voice their opinions in all aspects of the service. Various feedback systems were in place to obtain their views. People and relatives described the responsiveness of staff as “better than brilliant” and stated that staff went, “above and beyond.” Staff found imaginative ways to meet people’s needs and enable them to live as full a life as possible. A creative activities programme was in place to help meet people’s social needs. There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to complain.

People told us that they felt safe. There were safeguarding policies and procedures in place. Staff were knowledgeable about what action they would take if abuse was suspected. There were no ongoing safeguarding concerns.

There was a safe system in place for the management of medicines.

The building was safe and generally well maintained. The bathroom was due to be refurbished. People’s bedrooms were personalised to suit their preferences. Various checks and tests were carried out to make sure the premises were safe.

People, relatives and staff told us there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. On the day of the inspection, we saw that people’s needs were met by the number of staff. There was a training programme in place. Staff were trained in safe working practices and to meet the specific needs of people who lived at the service.

People were supported to receive a suitable nutritious diet. People, relatives and health care professionals spoke positively about the caring nature of staff. We observed that people were cared for and supported by staff with kindness and patience.