Archived: Hathaway House

Updated 23 July 2014

We inspected this service on 14 April 2014. There were two people using the service and due to people’s complex needs, we were not able to speak with people about their experience of living there. We therefore spent time observing the support they received from staff. We also spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager.

We did not receive any additional information relating to this new inspection process prior to our inspection and spoke with one relative following our inspection.

We looked at records relating to how the service was managed and at the two care records of people using the service. We saw staff records and the staff roster and records relating to reviewing the quality of the service provision.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process under Wave 1.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and before our inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service to help us decide what areas to focus on. This was the first inspection carried out at the service since they were registered with us in December 2013.

We telephoned the registered manager three days before our inspection to make sure they were happy to participate with this first testing phase and would have an opportunity to spend time with people.

Updated 23 July 2014

Hathaway House is registered to provide accommodation and support for up to six people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection two people were living in the home and receiving a service. The service was indistinguishable as a care home and was part of a small residential estate where people had an opportunity to integrate within the local community.

The service had a registered manager in post who had worked as a manager there since the service was registered with us in December 2013. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider. Prior to this the manager worked at the same service which was registered under a different provider. There were clear management structures offering support and leadership and there was a positive and empowering culture.

People using the service were safe because staff had received training on how to recognise signs of abuse and possible harm, and they knew what to do if they had any concerns. The staff knew how to identify signs of abuse and knew how to raise any safeguarding concern. There had been no safeguarding concerns since the service registered with us in December 2013.

People using the service had complex needs and used a combination of words and sounds to express themselves. As people were not able to express their views to us, we observed interaction between people and staff, how people chose what activities to do and how to spend their time. We saw the staff had developed good relationships with people; they were kind and respectful and communicated with people in a way they understood.

People were dressed in their own style and if they needed support, staff helped people to take a pride in their appearance and dress in their personal style.  People were supported to have their personal care needs met. The staff understood how people wanted to be supported and ensured people’s privacy and dignity.

People could choose how to spend their day and completed activities in the community.  People were supported to go to places of interest and enjoy a meal in local restaurants, participate in their hobbies and interests which included walking and horse riding. The routines and daily activities were flexible. The staffing was provided to ensure people could carry out planned activities, which meant people could do the things they chose to do safely.

Staff received specific training to meet the complex needs of people using the service. Staff received support from the registered manager to develop their skills and use their knowledge to enhance the lives of people using the service. This meant people received support from staff who were suitably trained.

Some people using the service did not have the ability to make decisions about some parts of their care and support. Staff had an understanding of the systems in place to protect people who could not make decisions and followed the legal requirements outlined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This legislation sets requirements to ensure that where appropriate decisions are made in people’s best interests and ensures the least restrictive care is provided.

Records showed that CQC had been notified, as required by law, of all the incidents in the home that could affect the health, safety and welfare of people.