Rix House

Updated 17 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 13 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 17 February 2022

About the service: Rix House is a care home that was providing personal care to 14 people of various ages with learning disabilities at the time of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

At our last inspection in June 2018, we raised concerns about medicines management and quality assurance systems and the service was in breach of Regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach of these Regulations.

Medicines were being administered safely and people’s dietary and healthcare needs were met. Infection control procedures were being followed and the service was clean and tidy.

The registered manager provided staff with leadership and was approachable and keen to keep high standards within the service. Audits and checks were carried out and used to drive continuous improvements to the service people received.

The service did not fully apply the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance, although plans were in place, working with local commissioners, to achieve this in the future. This guidance helps ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence. However, the service promoted independence and provided person-centred support within the constraints of an environment where a large number of people shared communal facilities. People were encouraged to access the community and undertake person centred activities. The provider was working with the local authority to alter the environment and move to a supported living model on a different site which would help ensure the principals and values were fully applied.

People told us they felt safe living at the service and appropriate safeguarding referrals had been made. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood how to keep people safe. There was a complaints procedure available which enabled people to raise any concerns or complaints about the care or support they received.

Staff were caring, compassionate and knew people well. There was a culture within the home of treating people with respect and dignity. People’s feedback was used to make changes to the service.

A range of meaningful activities were on offer to keep people occupied, according to their individual interests.

Care plans were up to date and detailed the care and support people wanted and needed. Risk assessments were in place and showed what action had been taken to mitigate any risks which had been identified.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough of them to keep people safe and to meet their care needs. Staff were receiving appropriate training which was relevant to their role and people’s needs. Staff were supported by the registered manager and were receiving formal supervisions where they could discuss their on-going development needs.

The service met the characteristics of Good in all areas; more information is in the full report.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection in April 2018, the home was rated requires improvement.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the service is now rated Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk