Archived: Hylton Bank

Updated 22 August 2017

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.

The inspection took place on 19 May, 24 May and 1 June 2017 and was announced. We gave the registered provider 48 hours’ notice as it was a small service and we wanted to make sure people would be in. We contacted relatives both before and after the site visits.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection took place we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally required to let us know about. The provider also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) and this was returned before the inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and what improvements they plan to make.

We contacted the local authority commissioners of the service, the local authority safeguarding team and the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is the national consumer champion for health and social care.

The people who lived at this home had complex needs and this limited their communication, so we spoke with relatives and asked for their views. We also spent time with people and staff in the home to observe interactions.

During the inspection we spent time with some people who lived in the home and observed how staff supported them. We also spoke with four members of staff, including the registered manager, a service coordinator, a support worker and the regional service manager. We looked at three people’s care records and medicine records. We reviewed three staff files, including records of the recruitment process. We reviewed supervision, appraisal and training records as well as records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 22 August 2017

The inspection took place on 19 May, 24 May and 1 June 2017 and was announced. We gave the registered provider 48 hours’ notice as it was a small service and we wanted to make sure people would be in. We contacted relatives both before and after the site visits.

This is the first time the service has been inspected since it was registered on 20 May 2016.

Hylton Bank provides care and accommodation for up to nine people with learning and physical disabilities. The home has two separate areas named Bank side and Lake side as well as a self-contained bungalow within the grounds. At the time of our inspection there were nine people living in the service.

The home had a registered manager who had worked in the service for a number of years. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Relatives told us their family members were happy living at Hylton Bank and they were cared for and safe. Staff showed a good understanding of safeguarding adults and were confident of how to keep people safe.

Risk assessments were in place for people when required with clear links to care and support plans. General risk assessments regarding the premises and environment were available.

Medicines were administered in a safe way by staff who had received training and had their competencies checked. Records we viewed were up to date and fully completed for the most. We noted one gap from the day of inspection. The registered manager investigated and took appropriate action.

Staff were recruited in a safe and consistent manner with all appropriate checks carried out. Staffing levels were consistent with people’s needs and varied accordingly with planned activities and on weekends when people were spending some time away from the home.

Staff had up to date training in relevant areas, such as safeguarding, moving and assisting and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) including the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported to maintain a balanced and healthy diet, and to access health services when required.

Staff understood the principles of MCA and DoLS. People had MCA assessments that were decision specific. The Registered Manager made DoLS authorisation requests to associated local authorities in a timely way and maintained a record of applications made and when authorisations had been received.

Staff received regular supervision, observations and annual appraisals.

The service provided personalised care. Staff had good knowledge of each person and knew how to support them in a way that met their specific needs. Relatives told us they felt people were looked after and well cared for in the home.

Each person had a weekly planner of activities they took part in to meet their social needs and interests as well as to promote their independent living skills.

Staff were aware of how to communicate with each person using methods most suitable to each individual.

Relatives and Advocates were involved in care planning for people. Relatives told us they knew how to raise concerns but had no complaints about the service.

Relatives and staff felt the service was well run and the home was well managed. The atmosphere in the home was calm, relaxed and friendly.

Staff felt supported in their roles and were kept informed and updated in relation to any changes with people, the service and with the provider.

The provider had a quality assurance system in place to check the quality and safety of the service provided to people.