Archived: The Saltings

Updated 28 January 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.

This inspection took place on 17 November 2015 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. Two people were at a day centre in the community and another was at the service. Some people were unable to talk to us directly about their experiences due to their complex needs, so we instead spent time observing their experiences at the service and their interactions with staff. In addition we returned to speak with two people and one member of staff on 25 November 2015.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection visit, we reviewed a variety of documents. These included three care plans, staffing rotas, two staff recruitment files, medicine administration records, activities records, maintenance records, risk assessments, health and safety records, supervision records and quality assurance surveys.

We spoke with two people who used the service and observed interactions between people and staff. We spoke with the provider, the registered manager and one member of staff. After the inspection we spoke with one social care professional who had had recent contact with the service. In addition we spoke with two relatives and received positive feedback about the service.

Updated 28 January 2016

This inspection took place on 17 and 25 November 2015 and was unannounced. The previous inspection was carried out on 23 July 2014 and there were concerns around the service protecting people harm. At this inspection, we found the provider had met the required actions. The Saltings is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three people who have a learning disability.

The Saltings is a detached house in a residential small cul-de-sac. The home is not suitable for people with physical mobility problems. There is a driveway and some on street parking. A bus stop and the beach are within walking distance. New Romney town and its amenities are close by.

At the time of the inspection three people were living at the service, each having their own bedroom. People had access to a communal lounge, dining area, kitchen, laundry room and shared bathrooms. There is a well maintained garden and outside area.

The owners both work in the service on a daily basis and one is the registered manager. 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. We spoke with both providers who were available throughout the inspection.

Most risks associated with people’s care and support had been assessed and in most cases procedures were in place to keep people safe. However some guidance for staff to help keep people safe required more detail. Two people told us they received their medicines safely and when they should.

Two people said they had a say in the planning of their care and support. Care records contained information about people’s wishes and preferences and some pictures and photographs to make them more meaningful. They detailed people’s skills in relation to tasks and what help they may require from staff, in order that their independence was maintained. People had regular reviews of their care and support where they were able to discuss any concerns.

People had in depth personalised care records, risk assessments and guidance in place to help staff to support them in an individual way. They contained information about people’s wishes and preferences and some pictures and photographs to make them more meaningful. They detailed people’s skills in relation to tasks and what help they may require from staff, in order that their independence was maintained. People had regular reviews of their care and support where they and their relatives were able to discuss any concerns.

Staff members encouraged people to be involved and feel included in their environment. Staff spoke about people in a respectful way which demonstrated they cared about the people’s welfare. People interacted positively with staff, smiling and being involved in conversations. People had opportunities to undertake activities and access the community. People attended local centres and enjoyed the activities undertaken, such as woodwork. People enjoyed many social events such as going to local concerts, discos, the cinema and parties. Some people had family that were important to them and contact was supported by staff.

A new induction and training programme had recently been introduced by the provider. We examined the materials which included a workbook and DVD. The induction programme incorporates the recently introduced care certificate, which is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life. The provider told us that previously they had no formal induction process; new staff shadowed existing staff and completed a programme of training and 1:1 sessions with the provider. Staff training included courses relevant to the needs of people supported by the service.

We found a number of breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of this report.