Daubeney Gate

Daubeney Gate provides care for six adults with learning disabilities. The service provides 24-hour support to people, which enables them to live as independently as possible. The accommodation is over two floors with adapted bathrooms and enclosed garden areas. At the time of the inspection, six people were living at the service.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. 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.

At our last inspection, we rated the service as Good. At this second comprehensive inspection, we found that the service remained good.

There was a registered manager. 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.

Effective quality checks had not previously been carried out in order to check that the service was meeting people's needs and to ensure they were provided with a safe, quality service. Staff had not always received regular training and supervision to make sure they had the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care in line with best practice. The registered manager had taken steps to improve the governance of the service, however we needed to be sure they could be sustained and embedded into staff practice.

Staff followed the procedures for safeguarding people from the risks of harm or abuse. Risk management plans were in place to safeguard people's personal safety and manage known environmental risks.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's current needs. The staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were completed to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service.

Medicines were managed safely. The processes in place ensured that the administration and handling of medicines was suitable for the people who used the service. Staff had the appropriate personal protective equipment to perform their roles safely. The service was clean and tidy, and regular cleaning took place to ensure the prevention of the spread of infection.

People's needs and choices were assessed before they went to live at the service to make sure their care was provided in line with their preferences.

People were encouraged to shop for, prepare, and cook their own meals. Staff supported them to make healthy choices to maintain their health and well-being. Staff supported people to book and attend appointments with healthcare professionals, and supported them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.

People's diverse needs were met by the adaptation, design, and decoration of premises and they were involved in decisions about the environment. People's consent was gained before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were met. 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 support this practice

Staff treated people with kindness, dignity, respect, and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and preferences. People looked happy and comfortable in the company of staff. Relatives told us they were happy with the way that staff provided support to their family members and that this was always carried out in a respectful and dignified manner. People were encouraged to make decisions about how their care was provided.

People were listened to, their views were acknowledged and acted upon, and care and support was delivered in the way that people chose and preferred. Care plans were person centred and reflected how people's needs were to be met. People were supported to take part in activities that they wanted to do, within the service and the local community. There was a complaints procedure in place to enable people to raise complaints about the service.

There was nobody receiving end of life care at the time of our inspection. However, there were systems were in place and future planning documents to support people and their families when coming to the end of their life.

Staff worked well together and created a relaxed, friendly, and jovial atmosphere at the service. Staff were positive about the management and told us there had been previous difficulties with a lack of staffing but things had improved recently.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found