Archived: Lowenva Care

Updated 21 November 2018

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 31 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for people who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and other information we held about the home including any notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

The inspection was brought forward due to concerns raised with CQC and the local authority about how a person was spoken to on one occasion when they were agitated. Because of this we paid particular attention to how the registered manager responded to safeguarding concerns.

We looked around the premises and observed staff interactions with people. We met with all of the people living at the service, the registered manager, and five members of staff. We looked at detailed care records for two individuals, staff training records, three staff files and other records relating to the running of the service. Following the inspection visit we spoke with another two members of staff, two external healthcare professionals and a relative.

Updated 21 November 2018

Lowenva Care is a registered care home for up to six adults. 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. At the time of the inspection six people were living at the service. Lowenva Care is located in a rural area, approximately four miles from the town of St. Austell.

We inspected Lowenva Care on 31 October 2018, the inspection was announced 48 hrs in advance. This was because the service is small and people are often out. We needed to be sure someone would be available to talk with us. At our last inspection on 3 June 2016 and we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service was operating in line with the values that underpin the CQC ‘Registering the Right Support’, and other current best practice guidance. This guidance includes the promotion of the values of; choice, independence and inclusion. The service was working with people with learning disabilities that used the service, to support them to live as ordinary a life as any citizen. Staff supported people to access the community regularly. People’s independence was respected and they were encouraged to develop and maintain skills. Although the registered manager shared these values they were unaware of the guidance. Lowenva Care is a small care home and there were limited opportunities for the management team to keep abreast of changes and developments in the care sector. We have made a recommendation about this in the report.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Applications for DoLS authorisations had been made and the registered manager updated the local DoLS team when further restrictive practices were introduced. There was no evidence to show these decisions had been taken in line with the best interest process and we have made a recommendation about this in the report.

At our last inspection in June 2016 we found supervisions were not being effectively recorded and we made a recommendation. At this inspection we found staff supervisions were taking place regularly and these were recorded and kept on file. Records showed the meetings were an opportunity to identify any gaps in training and discuss working practices. Staff told us they were well supported and received regular training updates.

People were protected from identified risk. Staff were aware of the support people needed to help keep them safe and were confident at all times. When concerns were raised with the registered manager they took immediate and effective action to mitigate any risks. People and relatives told us they believed Lowenva Care provided care and support safely.

The premises were clean and well maintained. People’s bedrooms were personalised and reflected their tastes and interests.

There were quality assurance systems in place to monitor the standards of the care provided. Audits were carried out regularly by the registered manager. Staff roles and responsibilities were clearly defined and understood.