Archived: Thornbury House

Thornbury House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to six people with a learning disability or autism. At the time of our visit there were five people living at the home, which is an older, adapted building in a residential area of Southampton.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures 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 a learning disability or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The home was similar to neighbouring properties in size. There were no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

The provider had made necessary improvements to make sure the premises and equipment used were safe. People received care and support that was safe. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. There were enough staff deployed to support people safely. The provider met good practice standards with respect to managing medicines and preventing the spread of infection.

The provider had made improvements to the management and quality systems in use, but did not have an overall strategic improvement plan in place. There was focus on meeting people’s individual needs and preferences. The provider worked in cooperation with other organisations and worked to improve the service people received. This was supported by effective management and quality systems appropriate to the size of the service.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (report published 7 June 2019) with two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 16 April 2019. We found two breaches of legal requirements. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve the areas of Safe care and treatment and Good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe and well-led which contain those requirements.

We used the ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Thornbury House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Thornbury House is a care home for people with a learning disability.

At the time of our inspection there were four people living at Thornbury House.

The size of the home was within the good practice guidelines in Registering the Right Support. The provider had reduced the number of identifying signs and other indications it was a care home. Staff did not wear uniforms which might suggest they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People’s experience of using this service:

People received good care and support that was effective, caring and responsive.

There had been insufficient investment in the service. Improvements were needed to make sure people were safe.

Improvements were needed to make sure the service was well led. There had been a recent change in registered manager. The new registered manager understood where improvements were needed.

People’s care and support was based on thorough, detailed and person-centred assessments and care plans.

There were caring relationships between staff and people they supported.

People’s care and support met their needs.

There was a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in a comfortable and homely environment.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People’s support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to access the community and pursue their interests.

Rating at last inspection:

This was the first inspection since the current provider registered with us.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection within our published timeframe following a change in registration.

Enforcement:

Please see the “Action we have told the provider to take” section towards the end of the report.

Follow up:

We will review the provider’s improvement action plan, and decide if we need to check improvements have been made before the next comprehensive inspection. We will re-inspect this service within our published timeframe for services rated requires improvement. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.