The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Staffordshire County Council - 40 Co-operative Street

40 Co-operative Street, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 3DA (01785) 252645

Provided and run by:
Staffordshire County Council

All Inspections

1 November 2012

During a routine inspection

There were nine people living at the service on the day of our visit. No one knew we would be visiting. We spoke with relatives of the people who lived at the service, three members of staff and the manager.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people living at the home. These included observation, speaking with staff and looking at records. We spent time in the lounges. We observed the care that people received. We saw good interactions between the staff and people who lived at the service and we saw that people were given choices.

Some people at the service were unable to verbally communicate their needs. However, staff knew the people in their care very well, they told us, "People can choose what food they prefer, we have a cook, the meals are good, and every day we have a choice of meals". We found that the atmosphere of the home was relaxed and friendly.

Each person had an effective care plan in place which ensured that their needs were met.

After our visit to the service we spoke with relatives of the people who lived in the home. Relatives told us, "The staff are fantastic, we have no qualms about the care our relative receives".

10 January 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this inspection because we had not visited the service (home) since 2008 and we did not have enough information to assess compliance. We wanted to see what life was like for the people who lived in the home. We also wanted to see whether the service had made any improvements since we last visited.

During this inspection visit we looked at outcomes four and sixteen of the essential standards of quality and safety, under the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Outcome four looks at the care and welfare needs of people using the service. Outcome sixteen looks at how the service assesses and monitors the quality of the services that people receive.

The visit was unannounced. This means that the service did not know that we were coming.

The service accommodates up to thirteen people with learning disabilities. At the time of our visit there were nine people living in the home. The providers (Staffordshire County Council) had been planning to close the home for several years as part of their modernisation programme. Families and representatives of people living in the home had been kept updated and the manager told us that there had been many meetings held in respect of this. As a result, the manager told us the service was not accepting any new admissions to the home although there was always the possibility of an emergency admission.

The manager and staff knew each person very well and understood their needs, choices and preferences. Each person had an effective care plan in place which ensured that these needs were met.

During our visit we spoke with the manager and two of the support staff. The staff team was consistent, skilled and experienced and delivered a high standard of care and support to people.

After our visit to the service we spoke with relatives of people who lived in the home. Relatives told us that they were "very happy" with the care and support provided by the service.