The Pines

Updated 2 February 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 20 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 2 February 2022

This inspection took place on 19 September 2017 and was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice as the service is small and we needed to be sure someone would be at home. The Pines is a service that provides personal care and accommodation for up to 12 people who have a learning disability and who may be living with autism. On the day of the inspection, there were 11 people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection however they were away from work and not available to meet with us. 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.

At our last inspection in June 2016 we rated The Pines ‘Requires Improvement’ in caring and responsive and as a result ‘Requires Improvement’ overall. This was because we were concerned that staff practices were not consistently good and staff did not always act in a way which fully promoted people's independence and rights. We were also concerned at our last inspection that the range of activities for people was limited by a number of factors including staffing levels, transportation and the range of different needs people had which was not conducive to individualised care. We found at this inspection that improvements had been made to these areas however we concerned about the environment. There was damaged paintwork, stained carpets and the lighting needed enhancing.

Staff were recruited safely and received an induction when they first started working at the service. People were supported by sufficient staff who knew them well. Senior staff were requesting to review the number of support hours with the local authority.

Care records contained individual risk assessments and risk management plans to protect people from identified risks and to help keep them safe. They provided information to staff about action to be taken to minimise any risks whilst allowing people to be as independent as possible.

All medicines were administered by staff who were trained to do so. We identified some issue with record keeping around medicines however were assured by additional records in place that people were having their medicines has the prescribed intended.

Staff had received training and supervision and were able to describe how they worked with people to meet their needs.

Support files were personalised to reflect people's personal preferences. Their views and suggestions were taken into account to improve the service. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet, which they enjoyed. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people's care to ensure they received the care and treatment which was right for them.

People received a service that was caring. Staff knew people's needs well and were responsive and supportive. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People were offered a range of activities both at the service and in the local community. Staff sought to gain people's views.

Staff understood the need to support people to remain as independent as possible. Some people were able to go out unaccompanied by staff. Support plans showed that this had been risk assessed and systems had been put in place to enable them to contact the service if needed.

Good leadership was in place that provided staff with the necessary support and training to make sure people received good quality care. The management team assessed and monitored the quality of the service. A number of audits that had taken place. This ensured the service continued to be monitored and improvements were made when they were identified.