Background to this inspection
Updated
2 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: One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type: Sophie House is a care home service with nursing. 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: This inspection was unannounced.
What we did when preparing for and carrying out this inspection: We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection, we spent time with people in the communal areas of the home and we saw how staff supported the people they cared for. We spoke with nine members of staff including the provider’s representative, the registered manager and seven care staff. We also spoke with five relatives to find out their views of the quality of the care provided.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and multiple medication records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home. These included systems for managing any complaints, and the checks undertaken by the registered manager on the quality of care provided.
Updated
2 February 2019
What life is like for people using this service:
• People enjoyed living at Sophie House and were cared for by staff who respected them and promoted people’s independence.
• Care plans reflected people’s preferred communication methods and were based on people’s, their relatives and other health and social care professionals’ views.
• People’s access to a range of interesting things to do had been further developed. People were supported to enjoy a range of activities which reflected their interests, and enhanced their lives. This included support to enjoy music therapy, the use of a hydro pool and time spent in the community, doing things they liked.
• People were supported to keep in touch with others who were important to them.
• People had access to the healthcare they required. Staff had been provided with clear guidance so people would receive the support they needed if they required emergency health care.
• Staff understood people’s safety needs well and supported people so their individual risks were reduced. People were supported to have their medicines regularly, by staff who were competent to do this. People's medicines were regularly reviewed and checked.
• The environment at the home was regularly checked, and there were sufficient staff to care for people. The risk of accidental harm or infections was reduced as staff used the resources and equipment provided to do this.
• Staff had received training and developed the skills they needed to care for people. Staff highlighted this helped them to provide good care to people.
• People’s care needs were assessed and plans put in place based on their individual needs, so people would enjoy a good level of well-being.
• People, their relatives and staff were encouraged to make any suggestions for improving the care provided and the service further.
• The registered manager and staff reflected on the care provided, so improvements in people’s care would be driven through.
• We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in all areas; More information is available in the full report
Rating at last inspection: Good. The last report for Sophie House was published on 13 July 2016.
About the service: Sophie House is a residential care home with nursing, providing personal care and accommodation. There were eleven people living permanently at the home at the time of our inspection. People living at Sophie House lived with a combination of physical disabilities, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. Sophie House provides care and accommodation to children and adults, on either a short-term or long-term basis.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.