Background to this inspection
Updated
29 January 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
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
Taunton House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 was owned and managed by an individual provider who worked in the service. This means that they 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
Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. We used all of this information to plan our 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with the four people living at the home. We observed care and support provided for people in communal areas and viewed the majority of the home. We spoke with the staff member on duty and the provider.
We reviewed a range of records including three people's care records and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision, as well as a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We reviewed additional information the provider sent us. We spoke with one relative and two additional care staff by telephone. We also spoke with two visiting healthcare professionals.
Updated
29 January 2020
About the service
Taunton House is a residential care home providing personal care to four younger adults with mental health needs, at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to five people.
Taunton House is an extended property providing single bedrooms, all with ensuite facilities. People have full access to all communal areas including a lounge/dining room and a kitchen, where they can prepare some of their own meals and snacks. Outside there is a garden people can use whenever they wish to do so.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Taunton House was led by a provider who was focussed on ensuring people received a high quality, person-centred service that viewed each person as an individual with equal rights to have a happy fulfilling life. People could not identify anything they would change about the service.
The service was well managed and consistently achieved very positive outcomes for people.
People received an exceptional level of individual care, were truly respected and valued as individuals and empowered as partners in their care in an exceptional service. The service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. A person told us “This is the best place I’ve ever been.” A relative wrote to the service and stated, ‘Thank you so much for the excellent care and love you gave [person’s name] whilst he was with you.’ Care and support were provided in a highly personalised way.
Staff had been inspired to provide high quality care and support by a provider who people, staff, relatives, health and social care professionals described as “fantastic.” The provider had cultivated an exceptionally person-centred culture that encouraged and supported people to achieve personal goals.
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 had made strong relationships with specialist health and social care professionals. These were built on mutual respect and had helped ensure people received the best possible support.
There was a very low level of staff turnover, meaning people were supported by staff who they knew and who knew them well. This helped make people feel safe and trusting of staff. Staff were recruited safely, and sufficient numbers were employed to ensure people's care and social needs were met.
People experienced safe care. Risks to people were identified and managed safely by staff who understood their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. People received their medicines safely, as prescribed, from staff who had completed the required training and had their competency assessed.
High standards of cleanliness were maintained throughout the home, which reduced the risk of infection.
Staff felt valued and very well supported through a system of effective training, supervision and appraisal. Staff consistently delivered care in accordance with people's care plans and recognised best practice.
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 28 June 2017)
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.