Newcroft

Updated 22 April 2020

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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Newcroft is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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. At the time of this inspection three people were using the respite service.

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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Due to the nature of people’s disabilities we were not always able to communicate with them, so we spent time observing the interactions between people and staff, in public areas of the home, in order to help us understand people’s experiences.

We spoke with one person who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, care workers and the administrator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three 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 continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at policies and quality assurance records.

Updated 22 April 2020

About the service

Newcroft is a short break service for adults who have learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities and/or complex needs. There were three people using the service when we visited. Care is provided to approximately 70 people each year.

The service was registered to provide support to up to eight people at a time and there were three people using the service at the time of our inspection. The service is larger than recommended by best practice guidance. However, we have rated this service good because Newcroft was otherwise meeting the characteristics of good and was meeting the other principles of registering the right support.

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

The provider informed the appropriate authorities when safeguarding concerns were found. However, did not always understand when CQC should be notified. We have made a recommendation about this.

People’s relatives and staff were all positive about the management of the service and told us the registered manager was very supportive and approachable. Professionals had provided positive email compliments to the service. The provider had systems and processes to monitor quality within the home.

Relatives we spoke with, all gave us positive feedback about the service and told us that staff were kind and caring. The environment was warm and spacious, and we observed staff speaking to people with kindness and respect.

The service had a consistent staff team who understood the needs of people well. We saw staff upheld and promoted people's rights relating to equality and diversity, and safe recruitment procedures were followed.

Staff used positive communication techniques with people so that they felt listened to and valued according to their individual needs.

Individual and environmental risks were managed appropriately. People had access to appropriate equipment where needed, which meant people were safe from harm. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to keep people safe from harm.

People received their medicines safely. There were systems in place to ensure that medicines were securely stored, ordered and disposed of correctly and safely.

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.

Staff received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role.

People were treated with dignity, and their privacy was respected. People's care plans contained information about them and their care and support needs, to help staff deliver personalised care. The management team reviewed the care and support provided to people to make sure it continued to meet their needs when they returned.

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.

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.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 22 December 2016). Since this rating was awarded the service has moved premises and changed its name. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.