Pennings View

Pennings View is a residential care home providing personal care to people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The service can support up to seven people. At the time of the inspection four people were living at the home.

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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Quality monitoring systems were not robust enough to demonstrate safety was effectively managed. This placed people at risk of harm.

Health and safety actions were not always completed in a timely manner. There had been a recorded fault with fire doors not closing since June 2019. There were two radiators in the hallway which were missing covers. There was an old sofa and two wooden pallets left out in the people’s garden area. These all posed potential risks to people.

Systems were not in place for reviewing and analysing accidents and incidents. Medicines were not always managed safely. Checks were not carried out to ensure medicines were stored in safe conditions.

The home was decorated in a way which people felt was homely. However, each door in the home had a ‘fire door keep closed’ sign on them which did not support this homely feel. The registered manager and team leader told us that staff appraisals were overdue. Staff last received appraisals in September 2018.

People told us they were happy and felt safe. Individual risk had been identified and measures put in place to keep people safe. For example, for epilepsy, mobility and access to the community. Mental capacity assessments and best interest paperwork was in place for areas such as personal care, medicines and finance. Consent for care and treatment had been sought from people. Where people were not able to give consent assessments and meetings had been held to ensure care was delivered in their best interests.

Staff were well trained and skilled. They worked with people to overcome challenges and promote their independence. The emphasis of support was towards inclusion and enabling people to learn essential life skills. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights were promoted and understood by staff.

Staff were described as caring, kind and friendly and the atmosphere of the home as relaxed and engaging.

People received pre-admission assessments and effective person-centred support. The service was responsive to people’s current and changing needs. Regular reviews took place which ensured people were at the centre of their support.

Care plans were personalised and updated in response to people’s changing needs. Staff listened to what people wanted and acted quickly to support them. Staff looked to offer people solutions to aid their independence and develop their skills.

Local leadership was visible and promoted good teamwork. People, professionals and staff spoke highly about the management at Pennings View and staff had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager, team leader and staff team worked together in a positive way to support people to achieve their own goals and to be safe.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 4 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to quality monitoring systems at Pennings View.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

This inspection took place on 5 April 2017 and was unannounced. We returned on 6 April 2017 to meet with the registered manager and complete the inspection.

At the last inspection in October 2015, we identified that the service was breaching regulations relating to management of risks people faced. At this inspection we found the provider had taken action to address this breach of the regulations.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Plans to manage risks people faced contained up to date information and provided clear guidance to staff on the support people needed. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and how to safely manage the risks they faced.

People said they liked living at Pennings View and told us staff were nice to them. One person told us, “I am happy living at Pennings View. I feel safe here”. Some people were not able to tell us whether they felt safe, but we observed that people appeared comfortable in the presence of staff. People smiled at staff and attracted their attention to request support. We observed staff interacting with people in a way that was friendly and respectful

Medicines were safely managed and people who use the service were positive about the care and support they received.

There were systems in place to protect people from abuse and harm and staff knew how to use them. Staff understood the needs of the people they were supporting. People were confident concerns or complaints they raised would be responded to and action would be taken to address their problem

Staff received training suitable to their role and an induction when they started working for the service. They demonstrated a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, as well as the values and philosophy of the service.

The provider assessed and monitored the quality of the service provided and had clear plans to address areas where they had identified improvements were needed.

We met with the manager and staff on duty.

Due to their lack of verbal communication we were not able to ask everyone we met about their views on the service. One person said they 'liked' living at the home and they were happy with their key worker.

We observed staff encouraged people to make day to day choices, such as what they would like to eat and drink.

We saw major decisions were made in people's best interests and within a multi-disciplinary team.

Records demonstrated medicines were administered properly. Protocols were in place for the use of 'as required' medicines.

The manager told us the staff rota was flexible which ensured people's needs could be met and they could access appointments and activities.

Arrangements were in place to enable people to raise concerns, if needed.