Background to this inspection
Updated
6 March 2019
The inspection: 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.
Inspection team: One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type: Old Court Barn is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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 unannounced.
What we did when preparing for and carrying out this inspection: We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection, we spent time with people in the communal areas of the home and we saw how staff supported the people they cared for. We spoke with two relatives and a health and social care professional to gain their views about the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and five care staff, including a temporary staff member.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care documents and multiple medication and records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home and checks undertaken by the registered manager. For example, systems for managing any complaints, checks on medicines administered, minutes of staff meetings, compliments received and records showing people had opportunities to do things they enjoyed.
Updated
6 March 2019
About the service: This service supported people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
The home was bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to seven people. Seven people were using the service at the time of the inspection. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by how the building was used. There were no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear anything which suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
What life is like for people using this service:
• People enjoyed living at Old Court Barn had developed caring relationships with staff who promoted people’s rights to independence, dignity and privacy. Staff knew what was important to people and what interested them.
• Staff understood people’s safety needs well and supported them so their individual risks were reduced.
• People's communication preferences were supported and staff assisted people to make their own decisions about their day to day lives.
• There were sufficient staff to care for people and people were comfortable to ask for assistance from staff when they wanted this.
• People were supported to have their medicines safely. People’s medicines were regularly checked and reviewed.
• Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink so they would remain well.
• People had access to health care and support from other health and social care professionals. This helped to ensure people had good mental and physical health outcomes.
• People's care preferences and needs and the views of their relatives were considered when care was assessed, planned and reviewed, so people’s needs continued to be met.
• People were supported to keep in touch with others who were important to them. Ways of working with people’s relatives were agreed which provided a consistent approach to the care people received.
• Staff received the training they needed and to develop the skills they required to care for people.
• The risk of infections and accidental harm was reduced, as staff used the knowledge and equipment provided to do this.
• People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this.
• People had opportunities to spend their time doing things they enjoyed. This included maximising people’s opportunities to enjoy spending time in the local community.
• The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control, independence, inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
• Systems were in place to take any learning from complaints and to further improve people’s care.
• The registered manager sought suggestions for improving people’s care further and suggestions were listened to and acted on.
• The registered manager and staff reflected on the care provided, so improvements in people’s care would be driven through. The registered manger planned to continue to develop the facilities at the home and to further develop their strategy for supporting people at the end of their lives.
•We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in all areas; For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: Good. The last report for Old Court Barn was published on 13 September 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.