Background to this inspection
Updated
5 March 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection Team
One inspector carried out this inspection on 14 February 2020.
Service and service type
The service, 33 Walsingham Drive, is a care home. 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 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 the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was announced. We gave short notice of the inspection because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider would be there to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 13 February 2020 and ended on 14 February 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since our last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries and allegations of abuse. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used all the information to plan our inspection visit. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
We spent time with all four people who were able to give us their feedback about the service. We spent time with them in communal areas, observing interactions and support they received from staff. We spoke with four care staff members and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included a full review of two people’s care plans, risk management plans, medication records and health and safety checks. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home. We had telephone conversations with three people’s relatives who gave us feedback about their experiences of the service.
Following our inspection visit, the registered manager sent us information we requested which we reviewed as part of our inspection.
Updated
5 March 2020
About the service
The service is a care home and provides personal care and accommodation for up to four people living with a learning disability. The home has two floors, a communal lounge, dining area and conservatory. At the time of our inspection there were four people living at 33 Walsingham Drive.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff knew people well, and, overall, protected them from identified risks of harm or injury. However, some risks had not been identified and did not have risk management plans for staff to refer to.
People had their prescribed medicines available to them and were supported with these by trained staff. People received their medicines as prescribed. However, staff had not been aware of specific guidance related to medicines given through a skin patch.
The home was maintained and had ongoing plans for décor refurbishment. Overall, there was a good level of cleanliness and, overall, risks of cross infection were controlled. However, there were a few areas where improvements were needed to make sure risks of cross infection were minimised.
There were processes to audit the quality of the service to ensure a safe service was provided. However, some checks and audits did not always identify where improvements were needed.
We gave feedback to the registered manager about issues we identified during our inspection visit and they assured us immediate actions would be taken to make the improvements needed.
People were happy and felt safe living at the home. They, and their relatives, gave us positive feedback about the care and support they received from staff.
People’s needs were assessed, and staff were trained to meet people’s care and support needs.
People had choices about drinks and what they ate for their meals and their nutritional needs were met. The provider understood the importance of promoting healthy eating and of promoting people’s independence whenever possible.
People were supported to access healthcare professionals when needed.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured 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.
People were supported to take part in activities and pursue hobbies.
Staff understood the importance of giving people choices. 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.
People felt cared for by kind staff who had the skills they needed and responded to their needs. People had individual plans of care and felt involved in making choices about their day to day care needs.
People and their relatives had no complaints about the services they received.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 17 August 2017).
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 inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.