Archived: The Larkins

Updated 6 February 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

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

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. Registered managers and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The manager was in the process of registering as an individual to take over the registration as provider.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with service provisions coordinator, the trainee manager, support worker and the manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality audits.

Updated 6 February 2020

About the service

The Larkins is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care to six younger people who have a learning disability. On the day of the inspection five people were living at the home.

The Larkins consists of eight single occupancy bedrooms, of which four had an ensuite. The two-storey property consisted of a lounge/dining area, kitchen, a shower room, laundry and a conservatory. Access to the first floor was via stairs. People had access to a garden at the rear of the property.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider’s quality assurance system was ineffective to take action where risks in relation to water temperatures had been identified. We found the provider had not displayed their latest inspection rating in the home.

The manager was in the process of registering as an individual to take over the registration as provider. We found that not all the people who used the service were aware of who was running the home. People and staff had the opportunity to have a say how the home was run. The manager engaged with other professionals to ensure people received a service specific to their needs. The culture of the home was warm and welcoming.

People told us they felt safe living in the home and staff knew how to safeguard them from the risk of potential abuse. People told us there was always enough staff on duty to assist them when needed. People were supported by staff to keep their home clean and tidy. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong to avoid a reoccurrence. People’s prescribed medicines were managed safely and were administered in accordance to the prescriber’s instructions.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good published (14 February 2019)

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the management of the service and the safety and welfare of people who lived at the home. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the Key Questions of Safe and Well-Led only.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for The Larkins on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.