04 to 05 February 2015
During a routine inspection
This was an unannounced inspection over two days and took place on 4 and 5 February 2015.
The home provides respite care and accommodation for up to six people with learning disabilities. It is located in the Twickenham area.
The home 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
In September 2013, our inspection found that the service met the regulations we inspected against.
At this inspection the home met the regulations. People and their relatives told us they were very happy living at the home and with the service provided. People could continue to pursue the activities that they would do when living at home, felt safe and the staff team provided the care and support they needed.
The home provided an atmosphere that was enjoyable, light and it was a nice place to stay.
The records were comprehensive and kept up to date.
The home was well maintained, furnished, clean and enabled people to do what they wished. It provided a safe environment for people to live and work in.
The staff we spoke with were very knowledgeable about the field they worked in, had appropriate skills and training and knew people and their carers well. They also understood people’s needs. Their knowledge was used to provide care and support focussed on the individual, in a professional, friendly and supportive way.
People were enabled to do the activities they did at home as well as joining in other activities that were group and individual based. People and their relatives said they followed their usual routines and were supported to do so. There was lots of smiling, laughter and good natured banter between people using the service and staff during our visit.
We looked at care plans that contained clearly recorded, fully completed, and regularly reviewed information that enabled staff to perform their duties to a good standard.
People and their relatives were encouraged to discuss their health needs with staff and had access to community based health professionals, during their stay in the same way they would at home.
People were protected from nutrition and hydration associated risks with balanced diets that also met their likes, dislikes and preferences. Relatives spoke positively about the choice and quality of food available.
The staff were well trained, knowledgeable, professional and accessible to people using the service and their relatives. Staff said they had access to good training, support and career advancement.
Relatives said the management team at the home, were approachable, responsive, encouraged feedback from people and consistently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided.
We contacted two health care professionals to get their views.