Archived: Housemartins

Updated 25 March 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 15 February 2017 and was unannounced. An adult social care inspector visited the service. We reviewed the previous report and provider’s action plan and notifications we had received from the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We only met one person at the service, as the other three people were at a day centre. We looked at two people’s care records, including medicines records.

We met the new manager and another member of staff. We looked at systems for assessing staffing levels, staff rotas, safeguarding training records and minutes of staff meetings. We sought feedback from the Devon fire and rescue service and received a response from them.

Updated 25 March 2017

This inspection took place on 15 February 2017 and was unannounced. Housemartins is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities. Four people lived at the home when we visited. Some people had autism and others had physical health needs.

We previously inspected this service on 20 July 2016. At this inspection we identified a breach of regulationsin relation to the safety of the environment. This inspection was to follow up if the required improvements had been made.

This report only covers our findings in relation to this requirement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Housemartins on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

When we visited, the registered manager had left. A new manager was appointed who had previously worked at the service. They were in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission, which was completed on 28 February 2017. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At this visit we found people were safer because improvements had been made to address environmental risks at the home. People were protected from scalds because the hot water supply was now thermostatically controlled. This was to ensure hot water temperatures in areas of the home people accessed independently were within the health and safety executive recommended range. Fire safety had been improved as new emergency lighting and fire alarm sounders had been fitted and an external fire exit was being fitted, which provided a second means of escape from the building in the event of a fire. Faulty window restrictors had been fitted in two upstairs bedrooms, which reduced risks of people falling from the upper floor.

People were protected from potential abuse and avoidable harm. Staff had received safeguarding adults training and the provider had safeguarding and whistle blowing policies. This meant staff were clear about how to report concerns. The manager had notified the Care Quality Commission and the local authority safeguarding team about suspected abuse concerns and sent details of action taken in response.

Staff demonstrated a good awareness of each person's safety and how to minimise risks for people. Detailed individualised risk assessments showed risks for each person and identified ‘triggers’ so staff could avoid them wherever possible. Detailed behaviour support plans and relevant training meant staff felt much more confident in managing any behaviour that challenged the service. Accidents and incidents were reported and included measures to continually review and improve practice and reduce the risks of recurrence.

People were supported by skilled staff that provided care at a time and pace convenient for each person. People received their medicines on time and in a safe way. The home was clean throughout. Checks of cleanliness and infection control were carried out with actions taken in response to findings.