Background to this inspection
Updated
4 November 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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
CareTech Community Services Limited – 15 Brooklyn Road 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.
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 announced. Due to pressures from COVID-19 we gave the service some notice of our visit.
Inspection activity started on 23 September 2020 with a visit to the care home and continued with desk top activity which ended on 30 September 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 requested documents related to infection control and management of the service from the provider. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We toured the building and grounds. We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We observed four staff members while they were supporting people at the service. We observed one staff member giving a person their medicines. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, locality manager, head of maintenance, a team leader and a support worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and three people’s 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 rotas and incident records were reviewed.
After our site visit
We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We requested, received and reviewed additional information related to one person’s health needs, staff training records, action plans and audits and policies. We received feedback from one of the three healthcare professionals we contacted. We spoke with three people’s relatives and a further three support workers.
Updated
4 November 2020
About the service
15 Brooklyn Road is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to six people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection four people were living in the home.
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 learning disabilities and/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.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Improvements had been made to the provider's quality assurance systems to effectively identify and respond to shortfalls. There were a variety of audits completed to ensure the quality of the service was maintained and improved.
We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe. People lived in a clean and pleasant environment, maintenance work was either underway or planned.
There was an open and transparent person-centred culture within the service. Staff were clear about their responsibilities told us they felt well supported, appreciated and valued.
Staff closely monitored people's risks and action was taken when people’s needs changed to continue to keep them safe. When safety incidents occurred, these were reviewed and action taken to keep people safe.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update:
The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (report published 17 October 2019) and we identified one breach of regulation 17 Good Governance. 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 in this area inspected and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
The service’s overall rating has improved to Good.
Why we inspected
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. We also looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for CareTech Community Services Limited – 15 Brooklyn Road on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.