Background to this inspection
Updated
15 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 carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Short Break Service-April Cottage is a respite ‘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 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.
We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection. As Short Break Service-April Cottage is a respite service, it is not open at all times and we needed to be sure the service was open and staffed on the day of the inspection. We also needed to ensure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed our ongoing monitoring of the service including information received such as statutory notifications or contact from the public. 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 one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, compliance coordinator, team leader and a care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and one person’s medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback via email from two relatives and one health care professional. We also telephoned four relatives and one person who uses the respite service to gain their views on the service.
Updated
15 January 2020
About the service
Short Break Service - April Cottage is a respite service run by the Brandon Trust. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four adults with a range of needs including, physical and learning disabilities. People could have support from a few hours a day or for longer periods. 33 people used the service and were allocated various respite hours, via the local authority, depending on their needs. The service can also provide emergency placements if required.
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.
The service was a bungalow on a residential street near to a town. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, or anything else outside to indicate it was a respite care service. 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 regarding quality assurance checks. There were now systems in place to check staff were being regularly supported and that people's care records were up to date and informative. Effective audits were part of the everyday running of the service to drive up improvements and ensure people were provided with a quality person- centred service.
Staff spoke highly of the people they supported and understood people's needs well. Feedback about the staff team and service was positive both from people using the service and relatives. There had been changes since the last inspection with the management team and both staff and relatives told us they could see improvements had been made. There was good communication between staff and relatives and people using the service.
From our observations we could see staff cared about people and ensured they were stimulated and occupied. People went out for trips when staying at the service and staff knew people's preferences.
People's care records were detailed and recorded the level of support people needed and the risks they faced. People's communication needs were noted to inform staff and to make sure people were cared for appropriately.
There were sufficient numbers of staff in place and the provider carried out suitable recruitment checks on staff.
Safeguarding concerns were dealt with in line with the provider's policies and procedures. People and relatives were confident any complaints would be listened to and acted on.
Accidents and incidents were investigated so that any trends could be identified and acted on so that lessons could be learnt. People's medicines were managed safely and effectively.
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 applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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 (published 8 February 2019). The provider completed an action plan after the inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of a regulation.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from the service's last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Short Break Service-April Cottage on our website at www.cqc.org.uk