Archived: Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road

Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides accommodation and support to four people with a learning disability. At the time of our visit, there were four people using the service.

Relatives told us they felt the service was a safe place for their loved ones. The provider had systems to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff were knowledgeable about how to safeguard people and keep them safe. Risk assessments clearly identified any risk and gave staff guidance on how to minimise the risk.

Background checks had been carried out on staff to make sure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs.

Appropriate measures were in place to ensure staff administered medicines to people safely. People were supported to eat and drink enough to help keep them healthy.

Staff received appropriate training, professional development, supervision and appraisal to support them in their roles.

People received individualised care that met their needs which were regularly reviewed. They were supported to attend health and medical appointments.

Relatives told us they were satisfied with the care and support provided at the service. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s care needs. People were able to make choices about how they wanted to be supported. They were encouraged to participate in meaningful activities.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, and were aware of the steps to take should someone who used the service need to be deprived of their liberty for their own safety.

There was a system in place to check if people and their representatives were satisfied with the service provided. Relatives felt able to raise any concerns with staff or the provider.

People's records were kept securely in order to protect their confidentiality. The provider had several policies and procedures that gave guidance to staff in a number of key areas.

At the last inspection on 3 May 2017 we found people were not always cared for in a safe environment. They were at risk of drinking contaminated water and their safety could be compromised in the event of a fire as two fire doors were not closing fully against the frames of the doors. Certain areas regarding the management of the service also needed improving because the provider did not carry out thorough health and safety checks of the premises.

After the comprehensive inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to the breaches in safety regulations. We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to four adults with learning disabilities.

There is no registered manager in place as the registered provider is in day to day charge of 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At this inspection, we found the registered provider had taken sufficient action to address the health and safety concerns we identified at the last inspection. The staff carried out more thorough audits by ensuring all sections were completed fully and any concerns identified were acted upon.

There was no registered manager in place as the registered provider is in day to day charge of 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road is a care home that provides accommodation and 24-hour support with personal care for up to four adults with learning disabilities. At the time of our visit, four people were using the service.

At our last inspection in September 2015 we found the service was meeting the regulations we looked at and we did not identify any concerns about the care and support people who lived at Airthrie Homes - 58 Airthrie Road received.

During this inspection, however, we found that people were not always cared for in a safe environment. For example, they were at risk of drinking contaminated water and their safety could be compromised in the event of a fire as two fire doors were not closing fully against the frames of the doors.

Although systems were in place for staff to identify hazards, none of the concerns we found during our visit were identified. This meant the provider was failing to identify and mitigate risks to the health and safety of people who used the service.

People were supported in a way which met their needs and reflected their preferences. They were able to access the community, for social and leisure activities.

People were treated with dignity and respect and had their choices acted upon. Staff were aware of how to keep people safe and had undertaken safeguarding training.

Care plans were personalised and reflected the wishes and preferences of people. People had access to healthcare professionals when needed. Their health needs were monitored. Any risks were assessed and plans put in place to ensure people's safety.

People were supported to make decisions. If they lacked capacity to make certain decisions, staff were aware of the process to follow in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff had detailed knowledge about the people they were supporting such as their likes and dislikes. People were involved in their care.

Staff supported people to maintain a balanced diet. People were offered enough to eat and were able to make choices about what they ate.

Staff received regular supervision and undertook a range of relevant training. They had a good rapport with people. Staff interacted well with people living at the service. People were supported to be independent.

There was a range of quality assurance processes and audits carried out at the service although health and safety audits needed improving.

The provider undertook appropriate checks when staff were recruited. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's care needs.

Relatives were aware of how they could complain if they unhappy about any aspects of the care and support of their family members.

The provider was aware of their responsibility to notify us of any notifiable incidents in the service.

We found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

In May 2013 we found that people's medication records had not been fully completed. It was therefore unclear whether people had received their medicines as prescribed. This may have placed their health at risk. On this visit we found that people's medication records had been accurately and thoroughly completed. Appropriate arrangements were in place to safely manage and record people's medication.

When we last visited the service the provider was unable to provide evidence of an effective recruitment and selection process. This was because staff recruitment records were unavailable. They had been temporarily stored elsewhere due to refurbishment of the service. On this visit we were able to check staff files at the service. We confirmed that appropriate pre-employment checks had been carried out. People were supported by suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

People told us they felt safe living at the service. We found staff had a good understanding of their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults. We found that the home administered medications on behalf of people. However, medications were not stored and recorded in a safe manner, and this needs to be addressed. We also found that the service did not have robust recruitment procedures in place.

We found that the home's physical environment was safe, and people told us they liked the environment. One person said "my room is nice."

We saw that there were enough staff to meet people's needs, and that staff were sufficiently knowledgeable and skilled to support people. We found that the service had a complaints procedure that was in accessible formats to people. People told us they knew how to complain if they wanted to. One person said "I talk to the staff." when asked what they would do if unhappy with anything. Another person said of the manager "she does listen if I have a problem."