Archived: House 2, Slade House

House 2 Slade House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

House 2 Slade House offers nursing services and supports for up to six people with learning disabilities. There was one person living at the service on the day of the inspection. The long-term goal of the service is to enable people to live safely in their communities. House 2 Slade House was transferred from another provider to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust on 1 July 2017.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was 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. The registered manager was on annual leave during the inspection so we were shown the service by the support coordinator.

Staff expressed their concern that they were not fully aware of the provider’s vision of the service and therefore were uncertain about its future. There were systems in place to identify and manage risks to the quality and safety of the service. However, there were gaps in the records for regularly monitoring the temperature in the medicines room and legionella checks. Staff were positive about working at the home and told us they appreciated the support and encouragement they received from the registered manager.

Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe from potential abuse, bullying or discrimination.

Staffing levels were appropriate and a consistent staff team was in place. We found that safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work.

The provider knew how to monitor incidents and accidents and what steps should be taken to prevent these happening again.

Appropriate systems were in place for the management of medicines so the person received their medicines safely. Medicines were stored and administered in a safe manner.

Staff were suitably trained and received on-going training and support. Staff were provided with regular supervisions and appraisals and therefore they felt supported in their roles by the registered manager.

The person's day-to-day health needs were met by staff and the service had good long-established relationships with external healthcare professionals. Care records showed that the person's needs had been assessed before they had started using the service.

The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their life. Staff provided the person with care and assistance in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA 2005) and knew that they must offer as much choice to people as possible in making day to day decisions about their care.

The person was included in making choices about what they wanted to eat. Staff understood and followed the person's nutritional plans in respect of any healthcare needs the person had.

Staff were caring in their interactions with the person. We saw the person being treated with dignity and respect and the person told us that staff were kind and professional.

The person’s care records were detailed and personalised which enabled staff to support the person in line with their personal preferences. The service had worked together with the person’s family and the person’s personal assistants to produce a person centred care plan. The plan provided staff with comprehensive knowledge about the person, their life history and their likes and dislikes.

Staff actively encouraged and supported the person to be involved in the interests and activities they enjoyed.

People and relatives were encouraged to share their views and opinions on the service. Arrangements to deal with complaints were in place should such a need arise.