Archived: Norwood Also known as Wye House

Updated 25 April 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 20 March 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the registered manager is sometimes based at the services office. We needed to be sure that they would be available at Norwood.

The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors.

Prior to the inspection, we gathered information from a number of sources. We reviewed the information we held about the service, which included correspondence we had received and notifications submitted to us by the service. A notification should be sent to CQC every time a significant incident has taken place. For example, where a person who uses the service experiences a serious injury. We reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR), which the registered provider completed before the inspection. The PIR is a form that asks the registered provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We contacted Sheffield local authority and Healthwatch (Sheffield) to obtain their views of the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. All of the comments and feedback received were reviewed and used to assist and inform our inspection.

During our inspection, we spoke with two people who were receiving support to obtain their views about the service. We spent time in communal areas speaking with people and observing how staff interacted with each other and the people they were supporting. We telephoned four relatives of people receiving support to obtain their views.

We looked around different areas of the service, which included some communal areas, bathrooms, toilets and with their permission, some people’s rooms.

We spoke with a director, the registered manager, a senior support worker, two support workers and the office manager to obtain their views.

We reviewed a range of records, which included four people’s support plans, three staff support and employment records, training records and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 25 April 2018

Norwood 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.

Norwood was registered on 19 January 2017. This is the services first inspection.

The registered provider, Bridge Pole Limited, operates a service providing support to younger adults with a learning disability in the community. Norwood provides respite care [short stays] to those people who also receive support in the community. Norwood is a three-bedroom property in a residential area of the city.

The registered provider also operates Brooklyn House. This is a two-bed property offering short stays to people who are also supported in the community. People receiving support may stay at Norwood or Brooklyn House. The staff employed work at either location and also support people in the community. Norwood and Brooklyn House share the same policies and procedures, registered manager and staffing. Norwood is also known as Wye House.

At the time of this inspection, 19 people used Norwood for respite care [short stays], up to two people at any one time.

We were unable to fully communicate directly with some people receiving support. We spoke with their representatives and relatives to obtain their views of the support provided.

There was a manager at the service who was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

This inspection took place on 20 March 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the registered manager is sometimes based at the services office. We needed to be sure that they would be available at Norwood.

People spoke positively about their experience of staying at Norwood. They told us they felt safe and they liked the staff.

Staff were aware of safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if an allegation was made or they suspected abuse.

We found systems were in place to make sure medicines were stored and managed safely so people’s health was looked after.

Staff recruitment procedures were robust and ensured people’s safety was promoted.

Sufficient numbers of staff were provided to meet people’s needs.

Staff were provided with relevant training, supervision and appraisal so they had the skills they needed to undertake their role.

The home was well maintained and was clean in the areas we saw.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The registered provider’s policies and systems supported this practice.

People had access to a range of health care professionals to help maintain their health. A varied diet was provided, which took into account dietary needs and preferences so people’s health was promoted and choices could be respected.

Staff knew people well and positive, caring relationships had been developed. People were encouraged to express their views and they were involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy and dignity was respected. Staff understood how to support people whilst promoting independence.

People were provided with, and supported to access, a range of leisure opportunities.

People said they could speak with staff if they had any worries or concerns and they would be listened to.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to.