Highgrove

Updated 13 April 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Highgrove is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Highgrove is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 1 March 2023 and ended on 9 March 2023. We visited the service on 1 March 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning team, community learning disability team and the health protection team. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We received feedback from the relatives of 5 people who use the service. We also spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, community support leaders, senior support worker and support worker. During the inspection visit we looked at 3 people’s care records, how medicines were managed and health and safety.

Additional evidence, sent to us electronically, was reviewed remotely. These included staff recruitment records, training information, policies, and procedures as well as audit and checks of the service.

Updated 13 April 2023

About the service

Highgrove is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to people with a learning disability, some of whom may have complex needs. Highgrove provides short stay breaks for people who live in the family home. The home can accommodate a maximum of 3 people at any time. At the time of our inspection the service provided short stays for 10 people at varying times.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

Due to the complex needs of people they were not able to share their views with us. We observed positive, polite interactions between people and staff. Staff clearly knew people well and were able to anticipate their needs. The families of people told us their relatives were supported in a way they wanted and needed, by staff who knew them well. Support was planned and delivered in a personalised way, promoting people’s choice and independence. People’s prescribed medicines were managed safely. Peoples social and emotional needs were considered to help promote their health and well-being. 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.

Right Care

People's human rights were upheld. Staff were seen to treat people with dignity and respect. Thorough assessments and personalised support plans provided detailed information to guide staff. Good staffing levels were maintained, offering continuity and reliability in support. Appropriate recruitment checks were completed. New staff completed a comprehensive induction and training programme on commencement of their employment. Staff understood their role and responsibilities and felt supported by the management team.

Right Culture:

Quality monitoring systems were in place, providing oversight of the service. Areas of development were identified and planned for. The management team had a clear vision and were working collaboratively with the local authority to remodel the current service provision. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report any concerns; where necessary these were acted upon to help inform on-going learning and development.

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 the service under the previous provider was good (published on 30 November 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.