Archived: Hart House

Updated 10 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and one assistant inspector.

Service and service type

Hart House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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. The service provided care and support for up to 10 people with mental health conditions.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. We visited the service on 21 June 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, four people’s medication records and daily care notes. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with one staff member who was responsible for the activity programme and one professional. We additionally received an email from one other professional.

Updated 10 August 2019

About the service

Hart House is a residential care home providing care to people with mental health conditions. Hart House accommodates 10 people in one adapted building and at the time of inspection there were seven people living there. Two people were on holiday with their families, so on the day of our visit, five people were at the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Hart House provides a safe and supported place to live for people with complex health needs. People are assisted with learning life skills through rehabilitation and promotion of independence, with the aim of moving into less supported living. One staff told us, “After long periods in hospital, people become deskilled and lack confidence. We help them through gaining their trust and then go forward once they are confident.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

At the time of our visit, people using the service had full mental capacity to make choices, and we saw that people chose to go out when they wanted and attended external activities. One person told us, “When I first got here they [staff] used to help me with a lot of things, but now I do most things myself.”

The accommodation was clean and tidy with a homely feel. People had their own bedroom which they personalised to meet their preference. There was a communal lounge and dining area where people relaxed or undertook shared activities. The kitchen was clean and organised. People shopped for groceries and cooked for themselves with help from staff where needed.

People were encouraged to clean and tidy their own room and assisted staff with maintaining the cleanliness of the communal areas. One person told us, “I get up for breakfast and then clean my bedroom.” Laundry facilities were available, and people were supported by staff to wash and iron their clothes.

The registered manager said, “We are proud of our relaxed approach, and staff build up relationships with the people.” One professional told us, “I can’t speak highly enough of them [staff]. They [staff] work with the person. They [staff] do not deskill people, they help people to participate.” Another professional said, “I believe it’s an excellent service with an excellent manager.”

We have made a recommendation about end of life care arrangements and joint working with other health professionals.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 31 May 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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