74 Old Ford End

Ratings

• Overall

  Requires improvement

• Safe

  Requires improvement

• Effective

  Requires improvement

• Caring

  Requires improvement

• Responsive

  Requires improvement

• Well-led

  Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Date of assessment 23 October 2024 to 05 November 2024. 74 Old Ford End is a care home. This is a specialist service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability. There were 6 people living at the service at the time of our assessment. We assessed the service against 'Right support, right care, right culture' guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.' We found 4 breaches of the legal regulations concerning safeguarding, safe care and treatment, person-centred care and governance. Medicines were not always managed safely. Safeguarding concerns around an increased risk of people receiving medicines with sedative effects had not been identified. People's health and safety were not always well assessed in care plans and risk assessments. Accident and incident reports had not always been completed to inform learning and reduce risks. There were not always enough staff. Environment and infection control practices were not always safe. For example, food and cleaning products had not been stored safely. Governance systems continued to not address all areas for improvement. People continued to not have enough support to participate in activities. However, staff understood the risks people could experience. Staff had received appropriate training and were recruited safely. People's communication needs were assessed. Staff promoted people's privacy and dignity and were supported to maintain relationships with their families. Staff felt supported. A staff member said, "Staff are asked for feedback, and we feel listened to." In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded. 

People's experience of this service

Not all people could give us speak with us. Where this was the case, we assessed people's experience by speaking with relatives and staff, reviewing people's care records and observation of the care and support they received. People did not always receive regular support to be part of their community. People’s needs and preferences were not always fully assessed and met. However, people were supported to maintain relationships with their families. People’s cultural and religious needs were met. People had received support from external professionals, advocacy services and support groups. Relatives told us staff treated people kindly, they could give feedback and any concerns they had would be addressed by the manager. A relative told us, "They know [Person's] likes and dislikes and [Person] can go into the kitchen for drinks. [Person] gets a good diet and the food always smells nice. The service is well-led and more stable of late."