Archived: Wisteria Cottage

Updated 26 October 2015

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.

This inspection took place on 24 September 2015 and was unannounced. The previous inspection of the home had taken place on 6 September 2013. This was the first inspection under the new methodology. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to the inspection for Wisteria Cottage. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan our inspection.

We spoke with three people who used the service, some due to their communication needs were unable to provide us with detailed information about their care. We spoke with two members of staff, two relatives and two professionals. On the day of the inspection people were preparing to go to their day club we therefore only spoke with them for a short period of time.

We read three people’s care plans, three staff files. We checked medicine control systems for three people. We read records relating to the management of the service these included quality checks, policy and procedures, minutes to meetings, staff rota and training records.

Updated 26 October 2015

We inspected this service on 24 September 2015. The inspection was unannounced.

Wisteria Cottage is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three people who have a learning disability. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

Wisteria Cottage is a period property in the village of Lower Odcombe. Two homes; Wisteria Cottage and Church View are run by the provider Village Homes, and share the same registered manager and staff team. The inspection of Wisteria Cottage was therefore carried out in conjunction with the inspection of Church View. As Church View holds a separate registration there is a separate report for the service. The provider is also the 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There was a very positive atmosphere within the home, people were seen to be at the heart of the service. People and their relatives were fully involved in planning their care which was seen to be person centred and individualised. Everyone we spoke to including staff members were happy to be part of the service. Staff told us they were proud to work at the home and really enjoyed supporting the people who lived there. People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff promoted people’s independence and right to privacy. The staff were highly committed and provided people with positive care experiences.

People we spoke with told us they were well cared for and happy. One person told us. “They [the staff] are all really kind to me”. People were encouraged and supported to be part of their local community. One person enjoyed helping out at the local lunch club.

Care records were well written, detailed, with formats that supported people’s communication needs. They accurately reflected people’s care and support needs. Were possible people were fully involved in their care planning. Care plans included information about people’s likes, interests and background and provided staff with sufficient information to enable them to provide care effectively. People signed their care plans to demonstrate they had been involved in reviewing them or agreed to changes made.

Each person had individual risk assessment plans that were reviewed with the person on a monthly basis. Safe systems were in place to protect people from the risks associated with medicines. Medicines were managed in accordance with best practice. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Health professionals were routinely involved in supporting people with their health and wellbeing.

Staff understood how to keep people safe. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people’s needs. There were staffing structures which provided clear lines of accountability and responsibility. The provider showed awareness of consistency within the staffing of the homes.

Staff received regular supervisions and training, that provided them with the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs effectively. Staff worked well together and communicated well. The home shared the same staff team and policies and procedures with the other home owned by the same provider. One member of staff informed us “I don’t mind which house I work in as the people are all lovely”. The provider informed us. “I have an open door policy, staff, residents and their family know they can contact me at any time”.

People had formed friendships with other people at the home. People talked with excitement about their holidays to Butlin’s and how they were planning parties for Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas. People were seen to be kind and caring towards each other, one person told us of another person who did not like fireworks so they would help them on Bonfire night. Birthdays were being talked about and how people were planning to celebrate.

People were involved in menu planning and enjoyed going to the local supermarkets to shop. One person wrote the shopping list for the home. People were involved in preparing their meals and making their lunch boxes. We heard one member of staff gently reminding a person what was in their lunch box when they asked, and also reminded them that they had made their sandwiches the previous evening. People led busy lives with each other but also went to different activities separately.