We carried out a review of the data available to us about Redlands Lane on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Redlands Lane, you can give feedback on this service.
Redlands Lane is a two-bedded residential care home that was providing personal care to two
people who have a learning disability and or a physical disability or autism at the time of the inspection.
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 service was registered for the support of up to two people. Two people were using the service. This is in line with current best practice guidance. The building design fitted into the residential area and the other domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People were encouraged to be independent within their home. Staff understood people’s individual communication needs and worked in proactive ways to provide person-centred support.
People were supported to have choice and control over their lives and staff demonstrated an understanding and awareness of mental capacity and best interests’ decisions. However, the records did not always clearly reflect the outcomes of best interest’s decision meetings.
We have made a recommendation concerning the recording of best interest decisions.
The provider supported staff in providing effective care for people through person-centred care planning, training and supervision. This ensured the provision of best practice guidance and that supported staff to meet people’s individual needs.
People participated in a range of activities that met their individual choices and preferences. Staff understood the importance of this for people and provided the support required. This enabled people to achieve positive outcomes and promoted a good quality of life.
The provider had a consistent staff team who understood the needs of people well. We saw staff upheld and promoted people's rights relating to equality and diversity. There was a strongly embedded culture within the service of treating people with dignity, respect, compassion, warmth and kindness.
A system was in place to ensure medicines were managed in a safe way for people. Staff were trained and supported to ensure they were competent to administer medicines. People received support with meals and drinks.
Staff knew how to access relevant healthcare professionals if their input was required. The service worked in partnership with other organisations and healthcare professionals to improve people's outcomes.
Staff were recruited safely and there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to keep people safe and to meet their care needs. Staff received appropriate training which was relevant to their role. Staff were supported by the management team and were receiving formal supervision where they could discuss their on-going development needs.
Relatives and staff told us they thought the home was well led and spoke positively about the management team. The provider and registered manager carried out numerous audits to ensure the service was effective. Staff supported people to integrate into their local community and the culture of the service promoted the values of supporting people to be as independent as possible.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 23 February 2017
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
Redlands Lane is part of a national organisation called Community Integrated Care which is a social care charity. It is situated in a domestic property rented from a local housing association. The property is converted into two flats.
Two people with complex learning disabilities used the service. Both people were supported on a one to one basis because of the complexity of their needs. We were unable to speak or observe care being provided because of the complexity of the service users’ needs and their lack of tolerance of people unknown to them.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
People were safe at the service. Measures were in place to ensure people and staff were safe from harm. There were no concerns about the cleanliness of the home. However, bathroom areas were in need of refurbishment to make sure facilities remained fit for purpose. Staff supported people to manage their finances and this was recorded in their care plans.
Staff had been trained and knew how to report safeguarding concerns. They had received training in safeguarding adults.
A variety of risk assessments were in place for each person and risk management plans were in place to make sure people and those around them were supported to stay safe. Fire safety procedures were in place for the home and staff knew what they should do should there be a fire in the premises.
There were enough staff to make sure staffing levels were maintained. Staffing arrangements were flexible to meet people’s needs. There was one vacancy at the time of our visit. However, existing staff were managing to cover the shortfall until someone was recruited.
Safe recruitment practices were followed with appropriate background checks of prospective staff carried out.
Staff were knowledgeable and knew people well. They received induction training when first starting to work at the service and received regular supervision.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice
Meal times were flexible to meet each person’s needs. Drinks and food was available as required. People had regular access to healthcare services as appropriate.
People experienced care that was personal to them from a compassionate staff team. Staff treated people as individuals and encouraged them to do as much for themselves as possible. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.
People received the care and support they needed, were listened to and had their choices respected. A variety of communication techniques were used to ensure people were engaged with and involved in making decisions about the support they wanted. People’s needs were regularly assessed and reviewed. Activities were organised on an individual basis and were meaningful to them.
People were given the information to tell them how to complain. No complaints had been received about the service since the last inspection.
There was good leadership at the service. Quality audits were completed which supported the registered manager and senior managers to assess the overall quality of the care and support being provided.
We saw that people were supported according to their care plans and their individual needs and preferences. Staff communicated well with people and were knowledgeable about their needs and their individual interests and hobbies.
We saw that medicines were stored and administered safely and staff were trained and competent to do this.
The provider had robust recruitment procedures in place which were followed by the home. There was also a complaints procedure available and no complaints had been made to he service.
We observed staff to be skilled in communicating with people and in dealing with people's behaviour. Staff were calm, polite and appropriate. Staff talked to people in a respectful manner and involved them in discussions about what they were doing.
People showed us their living areas and their personal belongings, which included televisions, wide screen cinema televisions and DVDs.
A relative told us they observed staff to treat people well and that their relative was 'well cared for'. The relative said people living at the home benefitted from long standing staff members who knew people's needs.
The relative told us people were involved in decisions about care and daily life. This included choices of where to go on holiday. The relative said the home 'does a lot' to improve people's quality of life. The relative said, 'My relative is happy at the home.'
The relative we spoke to said they considered the home to be a safe place for their relative to live at.
The relative said staff had the right skills to provide appropriate care for people. This included reference to staff being skilled in dealing with people's behaviour needs.