Archived: Royal London Society for Blind People - BC

This inspection was carried out on 10 December 2018 and was announced. The college was given 48 hours’ notice because we needed to be sure that student's would be available to speak with us. At our last inspection on 23 May 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. The college demonstrated they continued to meet the regulations and fundamental standards.

The college had a registered manager in post. 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. They were aware of the legal requirement to display their current CQC rating which was displayed at the college.

Student's said they felt safe and that staff treated them well. Safeguarding adults and children procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard students from abuse. Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work and there were sufficient staff to meet student’s needs. Action was taken to assess any risks to student's. Student’s medicines were managed appropriately, and they received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals. There were system’s in place for monitoring, investigating and learning from incidents and accidents. Staff had received training in infection control and food hygiene, and they were aware of the steps to take to reduce the risk of the spread of infections.

Student’s needs were assessed before they attended the college. Staff had completed training specific to the needs of the student's and they received regular supervision and appraisal. Student's were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Student's were supported to have a balanced diet and they had access to a GP and other health care professionals when they needed them.

Student's had been consulted about their care and support needs. They were provided with information about the college and they were aware of the services and facilities available to them. Staff treated students in a respectful and dignified manner and they respected their privacy. Student's received personalised care that met their needs. Transition processes were in place that ensured students received consistent, planned, coordinated care and support when moved between different services. Student's were supported to partake in activities that met their needs. Student's knew about the college complaints procedure and said they were confident their complaints would be fully investigated and action taken if necessary.

The provider sought the views of student's through regular meetings and surveys. They recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service they provided to student's. Staff said they enjoyed working at the college, they were well supported by the registered manager and there was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available when they needed it.

The registered manager told us that the college would no longer offer a residential provision after July 2019. They said the college’s transition team was working hard to find alternative options for the student's currently attending the college.

At the time of the inspection the college had a registered manager in post although they told us they were due to leave the service shortly. 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. The college principal confirmed with us they had appointed a new manager to run the service. The new manager was in the process of applying to the Care Quality Commission to become the registered manager.

Students said they felt safe and that staff treated them well. Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work and there were sufficient staff to meet student’s needs. Safeguarding adults and children procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported from abuse. There was a whistle-blowing procedure available and staff said they would use it if they needed to. Student’s medicines were managed appropriately and they received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.

Staff had completed training specific to the needs of people using the service, and they received regular supervision and an annual appraisal with a mid-year review. The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Students were supported to have a balanced diet. Students had access to a GP and other health care professionals when they needed them.

Staff spoke to students in a respectful and dignified manner and they respected their privacy. Students and their relatives had been consulted about their care and support needs. Students were provided with information about the college and they were aware of the services and facilities available to them.

Student’s care and support needs were assessed and there were appropriate guidelines in place advising staff how to support them. Transition processes were in place that ensured students received consistent, planned, coordinated care and support when moved between different services. There was a range of appropriate activities available for students to enjoy. Students and their relatives knew about the college complaints procedure and said they were confident their complaints would be fully investigated and action taken if necessary.

The provider sought the views of students through student meetings and surveys. They recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service they provided to students. Students were supported by a well-established staff team. Staff said they enjoyed working at the college. There was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available when they needed it.