Archived: RNID Action on Hearing Loss Roper House

Updated 8 January 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 was carried out by one inspector who was supported by two British sign language (BSL) interpreters.

Service and service type

RNID Action on Hearing Loss Roper House 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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 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 five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including, the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medicines 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 policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 8 January 2020

About the service

RNID Action on Hearing Loss Roper House is a residential care home providing personal care to 23 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 27 people. Roper House can support up to 23 people in the main building and four people in individual flats in a separate wing. There was a number of communal areas, a large garden and areas where people could take part in activities.

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

People told us they were safe and well cared for by staff. Staff knew people well and could communicate effectively with people. People were encouraged and supported to remain independent. People went out independently to shop or meet friends. People who wished to could do their own laundry and make their own meals or snacks in a separate kitchen and laundry room.

People attended regular meetings where they gave their views on the service and any changes. People had decided on the colour schemes for areas of the service as it was redecorated. They had also been involved in designing the garden. People’s hobbies and interests were supported. Staff supported people to develop and maintain relationships with friends, family and romantic partners.

Risks to people were assessed and they were involved in planning how to manage them. People took part in regular evacuations, so they would know what to do if an emergency occurred. People could manage their own medicines if appropriate. People were supported by staff who were recruited safely and had the skills and support to meet their needs.

Staff advocated for people to ensure they had interpreters to attend health appointments. Referrals were made to health professionals when required and any advice received was recorded in peoples care plans. People had end of life care plans which detailed what would make them feel safe and comfortable when they were unwell.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The registered manager was open and transparent, with a focus on involving people in decisions about the service. Regular audits were used to monitor the quality of the support given, action was taken quickly when shortfalls were identified. Staff worked with a range of other professionals to meet people’s needs.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 04 December 2018).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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