The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Stone Cottage

Meeth, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3EP (01805) 804683

Provided and run by:
Atlas Project Team Limited

All Inspections

1 June 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out an unannounced inspection of Stone Cottage because we received concerns about the care of people who lived in the home.

At the time of this inspection there were three men living at Stone Cottage and we spoke with, or observed, all of them during our visit. The men had varying levels of communication abilities. One man told us he was "very well" and liked living at Stone Cottage. He talked about a job in the house that he had particular responsibility for and was involved in when we arrived. We spoke with the other two men and they responded verbally but it was not possible to hold detailed conversations with them because of their communication needs. We observed that there were positive interactions between the men who lived in the home and the staff on duty who were quick to respond to people's needs or requests for assistance. We also saw that the staff treated people with respect and ensured their dignity and privacy were upheld when providing personal care.

We spoke with the unregistered manager, two members of staff, and a newly appointed member of the operational management team who arrived at the home during our visit. The staff team demonstrated a good knowledge of the needs of the men who lived in the home. They were able to tell us about different types of abuse, and what they needed to do to keep people safe. They told us what they would do if they suspected that abuse or any type of poor practice had occurred within the home. However the staff had not recognised that a behavioural management plan in place for one person was an abusive practice and inappropriate use of physical intervention until they were told it was by a healthcare professional. We spoke to a healthcare professional who confirmed that staff in the home were no longer using these guidelines to manage the person's particular behaviour.

We looked at the systems in the home to manage people's medicines and found it had not changed since our last inspection. Therefore people were at risk of receiving the wrong medicines due to unsafe practice followed by the staff in the home. We also found that the staff team did not know what some of the medicines were for or why they were prescribed in tablet or liquid form. This showed that the training staff had received related to the management of medicines was not suitable as it had not led them to change the unsafe practice operating in the home.

3 November 2011

During a routine inspection

We brought forward our unannounced inspection of Stone Cottage due to concerns raised.

This inspection took place on 3 November 2011 and lasted approximately five hours. There were three men living at Stone Cottage on the day of our visit. When we arrived there was a deputy manager and two care staff on duty. Soon after we arrived the manager of the home called in to meet with us.

During the day we met all of the three men. They had varying levels of communication abilities. One man was able to speak clearly and was able to understand questions and give clear responses. He told us he was very happy living at Stone Cottage and talked about his daily life and the things he enjoyed doing. He said he liked all of the staff and they were always kind and friendly. He described how people were consulted every day about daily activities and tasks including meals and outings.

We also sat and talked to the other two men who lived at Stone Cottage. They understood questions as long as they were straightforward and clear, and they gave verbal responses but it was not possible to hold detailed conversations with them. We were satisfied from their responses and their manner that they were happy and relaxed. The staff team explained some of the things the two people enjoyed doing, and also how they communicated with them. They told us they had requested support from a speech therapist to improve their communication methods.

We spoke to two parents on the telephone. They were both completely satisfied with the care provided to their sons. One parent told us they were 'Very, very happy ' the staff there are so caring. He is coming on in leaps and bounds!' They told us their son's communication skills had improved significantly in the last two years and he was much happier and more relaxed. They praised the staff team highly saying 'I love them all!' They told us how the staff team had helped them keep in regular contact with their son.

Another parent told us that before their son moved to Stone Cottage he had at times displayed aggressive behaviour. In the last two years he had been much happier and calmer, and rarely became upset or angry. They told us their son's diet had improved and he now enjoyed a much more varied and healthy range of foods. They also confirmed that the staff encouraged visits and communication with family and friends. They told us 'The quality of the care is excellent.'

We talked to a social worker who was the care manager for two people living at Stone Cottage. They had visited the home recently and were satisfied that both people had made significant improvements since moving to Stone Cottage. They told us 'Stone Cottage are meeting their needs to a good standard.'

A health professional we spoke to said she had provided advice and treatment for one person living at Stone Cottage. She reported no concerns about the service provided.

23 May 2011

During a routine inspection

We met the three people living in the home and spoke with two of them but they did not tell us their views directly as they either did not wish to engage with us or wanted to discuss their own interests. However we heard people talking to staff about their activities and interests and this showed us that they were enabled and supported to make choices and decisions about their own needs and aspirations.