Archived: Country Home Care

Updated 16 June 2017

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. This was a comprehensive inspection.

The inspection took place on 10 May 2017 and was unannounced. As the service was small the inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Before our inspection we looked at records that were sent to us by the registered manager and the local authority to inform us of significant changes and events.

Most people who lived at Country Home Care were unable to talk with us about their experiences. Two people were out for the day at the time of our inspection. We observed interactions between staff and one person using the service. We spoke with three staff members and two people’s relatives. We also reviewed a number of questionnaires that had been completed by people’s relatives.

We looked at all three people’s care plans and records. We reviewed documentation that related to staff management. We looked at records concerning the monitoring, safety and quality of the service, menus and the activities programme. We sampled the service's policies and procedures.

Updated 16 June 2017

Country Home Care is a residential care service providing accommodation and personal care to adults with a learning disability. The owners of the home (the registered providers) also lived at the property. One of the registered providers was also the registered manager of the service. There were three people using the service at the time of our inspection. At the time of the inspection the registered provider told us that it was their intention to close the service. We received an application to cancel their registration following the inspection.

At the last inspection, the service was rated ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Requires Improvement’ in the key question: Is the service Safe? At this inspection we found the service remained Good and improvements had been made to ensure the service was consistently safe. The registered provider was meeting all relevant fundamental standards.

Why the service is rated Good

Improvements had been made to ensure that people’s medicines were managed safely. The registered provider was meeting the requirements of the relevant regulation.

Staff knew how to recognise and respond to the signs of abuse. Risks to individuals’ safety and wellbeing were assessed and minimised. Accidents and incidents were recorded and monitored to identify how the risks of recurrence could be reduced.

There was a sufficient number of staff deployed to meet people’s needs. Staff received the training and support they needed to meet people’s individual needs. Robust recruitment procedures were followed to ensure staff were of suitable character to carry out their role.

Staff knew each person well and understood how to meet their needs. Staff communicated effectively with people and treated them with kindness and respect. People were supported to make their own decisions and remain as independent as possible. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People had enough to eat and meals were in sufficient quantity and met people’s needs and choices. People told us they enjoyed the food. Staff knew about and provided for people’s dietary preferences and restrictions. People were promptly referred to health care professionals when needed. Personal records included people’s individual plans of care, life history, likes and dislikes and preferred activities. These records helped staff deliver personalised care.

The registered provider was open and transparent in their approach. They placed emphasis on continuous improvement of the service. There was a system of monitoring checks and audits to identify any improvements that needed to be made. Action had been taken as a result of these checks to improve the quality of the service and care. Records about people’s care and for the purpose of running the service were maintained accurately.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.