About the service:

Walmersley 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 premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Walmersley Road provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have conditions such as Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism. At the time of the inspection there were seven people living at the home.

Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection in July 2016 we rated the service good in all areas and it was given a rating of good overall.

People’s experience of using this service:

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

People were safe because there were effective risk assessments in place, and systems to keep them safe from abuse or avoidable harm.

Medicines were managed safely and people were supported to ensure their health needs were met.

Staff received the training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively. Staff members had been safely recruited and there were sufficient numbers of staff to provide people with the person-centred support they needed.

The service actively promoted well-being and continually strived to protect people from the risks of social isolation and loneliness. The range of activity on offer was extensive. Staff supported people in developing meaningful and appropriate activities and building community links.

Systems in place ensured the needs of each individual were identified and respected. People, and those who were important to them, were at the heart of the service and were encouraged to be involved in decisions and developing their support.

People 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.

People had their care and support needs kept under review.

Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor and continually improve the quality of the service provided. The home was well-led.

More information is in the detailed findings below.

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. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of registering the right support. This was because peoples support focused on them having choice and control and as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the last inspection rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit in line with our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

This inspection took place on 5 July 2016 and was unannounced. This meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting.

Walmersley Road was last inspected by CQC on 10 April 2013 and was compliant with the regulations in force at that time.

Walmersley Road provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have conditions such as Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism. On the day of our inspection there were seven people using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and investigated. Risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and staff and described potential risks and the safeguards in place. Staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed.

The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service and appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out.

There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.

The provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and was following the requirements in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. Care records contained evidence of visits to and from external health care specialists.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.

Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they moved into Walmersley Road and care plans were written in a person centred way.

Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs. People who used the service, and family members, were aware of how to make a complaint.

The service had links with local organisations. Staff felt supported by the manager and were comfortable raising any concerns. People who used the service, staff and other stakeholders were regularly consulted about the quality of the service.

During the visit, we spoke with one person who used the service. They told us they were asked for consent and that the staff kept them involved in their care.

The person we spoke with told us they were happy with the care they received and were able to live independently. They also told us there were enough staff around to provide support when needed.

We spoke with one person who uses the service. They told us that the staff were friendly, helpful and supportive.

The person we spoke with told us they were happy and had no concerns about the care they received. They also told us they were kept involved in the review of care plans.

People told us they were able to choose what they wanted to do to live a fulfilling life. People told us they felt safe at this care home.