Background to this inspection
Updated
18 December 2019
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Alexander House is a ‘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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We spoke with two people who were not always able to talk with us due to their communication difficulties, so we observed interactions with staff. We also spoke to one family friend who visited the service regularly after the inspection to gain feedback about the service they received. We also received feedback from two staff members and spoke to the local authority safeguarding team as part of our inspection. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
18 December 2019
About the service
Alexander House provides residential care for people with mental health, learning disability and physical disability needs. The home offers a service for up to 10 people in one adapted building. At the time of our visit 10 people were using the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received their medicines as prescribed. Care staff kept an accurate record of when people had received their medicines. People told us they enjoyed living in the home.
People were supported by a kind, caring and compassionate care team who knew people’s needs. Staff supported people to spend their days as they wished. People told us they socialised with each other and also on their own, they had choices how they were able to access the local community.
People told us they felt safe with care staff and safe in the home. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding and the service took appropriate action to deal with any concerns or allegations of abuse.
Each person had an informative care plan which was used as guidance for staff. Where any risks were identified, management plans were in place. People were supported in a way that recognised their rights to take risks.
Care staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported, and it was clear staff knew people well.
People views on the service were sought. People told us the management was approachable and felt confident in their ability to complain. Regular people and staff team meetings took place. Quality assurance systems were in place to enable the service to identify areas for improvement and ensure people received a good quality service.
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
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 10 January 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.