Allanby House

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 5 December 2017. The inspection was conducted by an adult social care inspector and an expert by experience.

At the last inspection, the service was rated as good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

There was no registered manager in post but a senior support worker was leading the home with support from another 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.

The provider was advertising for a new manager for this and another service as their previous candidate had moved to another post. An experienced and trained senior support worker was acting as manager of the service.

Staff had received training on safeguarding and understood how to protect people from harm and abuse. CIC had a confidential phone line for staff to report any concerns.

We made a recommendation about increasing security in people's bedrooms to ensure people's medicines and money continued to be managed safely.

Good risk assessments and emergency planning were in place. Accidents and incidents were monitored and analysed and action taken to reduce risks.

We saw that staffing levels were suitable to meet the assessed needs of people in the service. Staff recruitment was thorough with all checks completed before new staff had access to vulnerable people. The organisation had suitable disciplinary procedures in place.

Medicines were appropriately managed. People had their medicines reviewed by their GP and specialist health care providers.

Staff were trained in infection control and the home was clean, orderly and well maintained.

Staff received induction, training and supervision had helped them to give good levels of care and support. They were trained in principles of care in relation to people living with a learning disability and specialised care of people who also lived with a physical disability. Restraint was not used in this service.

Consent was sought, where possible. The service operated within the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 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 access to health care and staff ensured that they saw specialists like consultants, occupational therapists, dieticians, dentists and opticians.

People were happy with the food provided and the staff were aware of how to support people to get good nutrition.

The home was well maintained and well decorated and furnished. The home was secure and staff careful about who came into the house.

Staff on duty displayed a caring attitude and were affectionate, empathic and kind. People in the service responded warmly to them. Staff understood how to support people to maintain their dignity and privacy. Staff showed both empathy and respect for people living with a learning disability. People in the service had access to advocacy and some people had a family member who took on this role.

People's needs were assessed and care plans in place. People received appropriate care and support because care plans were detailed and responsive to their needs.

People went out to shop and for meals. Some people enjoyed sport and going to social events. Other people preferred quieter activities in the home. Everyone in the home could go out to meals, holidays and days out together or singly as they preferred.

Staff had been trained in end of life care and had helped people at this stage in life.

Quality monitoring was evident in all aspects of the service with detailed audits and reports completed on a regular basis. Changes were made when issues were uncovered during the process as quality monitoring was used to improve the service.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found