Creative Support - St Helens Respite Service

Creative Support Respite, Thyme Lodge is a care home offering respite to adults with a learning disability. 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. The home has five bedrooms over two floors. Rooms have ensuite facilities and ground floor rooms had full wet rooms with ceiling track hoists.

The home 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.

The home has 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Everyone we spoke with talked positively about the activities undertaken. People had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities of their choice. This reduced the risk of people experiencing social isolation.

The registered manager and staff team had undertaken some very good pieces of work to support people to achieve their very personal goals. Staff had developed excellent relationships with people and treated each person individually. Everyone spoke positively about the staff and management team.

The registered provider continued to have safe recruitment practices in place. All staff had completed an induction at the start of their employment and undertaken shadow shifts with an experienced team member. Mandatory training was consistently completed along with refresher training when required in accordance with good practice guidelines. Staff received support through supervision and team meetings. Staff told us they felt well supported.

People's needs were assessed before they commenced periods of respite at the home. This information was used to create person centred care plans and risk assessments. These documents included clear guidance for staff on how to meet individual people's needs. People's needs that related to age, disability, religion and other characteristics were considered throughout the assessment and care planning process.

The registered provider had safeguarding policies and procedures in place. Staff demonstrated a good level of understanding and had all received training. Staff felt confident that any concerns they had would be

promptly acted upon. Staff had their knowledge assessed through supervision. The registered provider had developed a 'Keeping you safe' document in an easy read and pictorial format.

People had developed positive relationships with the regular and consistent staff that supported them. Privacy and dignity of people was respected and people's independence was promoted through documentation and interactions observed between people and staff.

Medicines were managed safely in accordance with best practice guidelines. There were medicines policies and procedures in place, staff had all received training and had their competency regularly assessed.

People were supported by staff with their nutrition and hydration needs. When people had specific assessed dietary needs staff had guidance available to meet these. People spoke positively about the food and drink available. We observed a mealtime experience that included many positive staff interactions, comfortable conversation and practical support which was offered as required.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and report on what we found. We saw that the registered provider had policies and procedures available for staff to follow in relation to the MCA. Staff demonstrated a basic understanding of this and had all completed training.

The registered provider had audit systems in place that were regularly and consonantly undertaken. The audit system identified areas of good practice along with areas highlighted for development and improvement.

Creative Support Respite was well maintained and decorated to a good standard. All required health and safety checks and documentation were in place and consistently completed. Fire safety equipment checks were in place.

Policies and procedures were available for staff to offer the guidance within their role and employment. These were regularly reviewed and updated by the registered provider.

There was a clear complaints policy and procedure in place available in accessible formats. Relatives told us they felt confident to raise any concerns and thought they would be promptly acted upon.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found