Background to this inspection
Updated
2 December 2017
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 31 October 2017. The visit was unannounced and carried out by one 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 looked at the PIR prior to our visit and took this into account when we made judgements in this report. We also reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These detail events which happened at the service that the provider is required to tell us about.
We contacted the commissioners of the service to obtain their views about the care provided. We also contacted Healthwatch Leicestershire who are the local consumer champion for people using adult social care services to see if they had any feedback about the service. We used this information to inform our inspection planning.
At the time of our inspection there was one person living at the service. We were able to speak with them and their relative. We also spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and three support workers.
We observed support being provided in the communal areas of the service. This was so we could understand people’s experiences. By observing the care received, we could determine whether or not they were comfortable with the support they were provided with.
We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. This included one person’s plan of care. We also looked at associated documents including risk assessments. We looked at records of meetings, recruitment checks carried out for three support workers and the quality assurance audits that the management team had completed.
Updated
2 December 2017
We inspected Homefield College Limited – 37 Greedon Rise on 31 October 2017. The visit was unannounced. This meant the staff and the provider did not know we would be visiting.
Homefield College Limited – 37 Greedon Rise is located in Sileby, Leicestershire. The service provides accommodation for up to three people who have a learning disability or an autistic spectrum disorder. There was one person using the service at the time of our inspection. At the last inspection in October 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.
At our last inspection in October 2015, we asked the provider to take action to make improvements with regard to supporting people to participate in activities of their choice. At this inspection we checked to see if the provider had made the necessary improvements. We found that improvements had been made.
The service had a 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.
The person using the service told us they felt safe living at Homefield College Limited – 37 Greedon Rise. Their relative agreed that they were safe living there. They were kept safe from avoidable harm because the staff team understood their responsibilities. They knew what to look out for if they suspected that someone was at risk of harm and knew who to report their concerns too. The risks associated with the person’s care and support had been assessed and reviewed. Appropriate recruitment processes were in place to make sure only suitable people worked at the service and appropriate numbers of staff were available to support the person living there. Processes were in place to make sure that when people needed support with their medicines, this was carried out in a safe way.
The staff team were appropriately trained and were supported by the management team through supervisions, appraisals and staff meetings. They were aware of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) ensuring people's human rights were protected. The person using the service had access to relevant healthcare services and were supported to attend appointments when required. They had been involved in developing menus to include their own likes and preferred choices. Their dietary requirements had been identified and they were supported to follow a healthy and balanced diet.
Independence was promoted and the person using the service was supported to make choices about their care and support on a daily basis. They were supported in a kind and caring way and their dignity was respected.
A plan of care had been developed with them and with people who knew them well. The staff team knew the needs of the person they were supporting because the necessary information was included within their plan of care. Whilst records were kept of the support provided to the person using the service, these were not always up to date or accurate. Actions had been taken to address this.
The person using the service was regularly reminded of what to do if they had a concern of any kind.
Staff members felt supported by the management team and told us there was always someone available to talk with should they need guidance or support. The views of the person using the service were sought. This was through informal chats and meetings. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided and a business continuity plan was available to be used in the event of an emergency or untoward event.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.