• Care Home
  • Care home

Rowland House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

7 Rowlands Yard, Main Road, Harwich, Essex, CO12 4ND (01255) 551769

Provided and run by:
J Moor

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 1 February 2019

The inspection: 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.

Inspection team: This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type: Rowland House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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: We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure they would be in.

What we did: When planning our inspection, we looked at information we held about the service. This included notifications received from the provider about deaths, accidents/incidents and safeguarding alerts which they are required to send us by law. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection we spoke with three people and two relatives and observed the interactions between staff and people that used the service. We spoke to the registered manager and three support staff. We looked at the care records of two people who used the service and the personnel

files for two members of staff. We also reviewed other information about the service, including health and safety information and records relating to the management and quality of the service.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 1 February 2019

About the service: Rowland House provides accommodation, care and support for up to seven people who may have complex physical needs as well as brain injury and other neurological conditions. There were six people using the service at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

• Staff had received training for safeguarding and this was updated regularly. The service was well-staffed and people received their medicines when they needed them. Risk assessments were in place to manage potential risks within people's lives, whilst also promoting their independence. Whilst we noted some people were using bedrails, the risks of these had not been suitably explored in people’s care files. The registered manager sent us this information following our visit. Recruitment processes protected people from the risk of being supported by staff who were not suitable for the role. The service was clean and fresh throughout.

• People's needs were assessed prior to them moving into the service to help ensure they were cared and supported effectively. Staff received training to be able to meet people's needs. People were supported with their nutritional needs and healthy diets were promoted. Staff worked well with external health and social care professionals and people were supported to access health services when required. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

• Staff at the service ensured people were at the heart of their care and support. The staff team were reported to be kind, caring and considerate. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people's independence where possible.

• People's individual communication needs were known by staff, and the provider had used assistive technology to help support people's communication needs. People received personalised care and participated in activities, hobbies and events they enjoyed. People told us they knew who to complain to and would feel confident in doing so.

• Audits and quality checks had been completed and had identified where improvements were needed. Risks were known by staff and aware of the steps to take to reduce these risk. Care records were up to date and person centred.

Rating at last inspection: Rated Good (Report published 15 September 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.