Background to this inspection
Updated
18 December 2020
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. This was a targeted inspection to check on a specific concern we had about risk and medicines management.
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
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Eastbourne & District Mencap- Arundel Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 a short notice period of the inspection. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to be sure that no-one at the home was displaying any symptoms of the virus and needed to know about the provider’s infection control procedures.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we needed to limit the time we spent at the home. This was to reduce the risk of transmitting any infection. Therefore, we had a discussion with the registered manager and discussed how we would safely manage the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service and the service provider. We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.
We asked the provider to send some records for us to review. This included, a variety of information relating to the management of the service, including the infection control policy, risk assessments relating to COVID-19 and staffing rotas.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We observed interactions between staff and people and spoke to the registered manager about the service. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with five staff members about what it was like to work at the home and seven relatives about their experience of having a loved one living at the home.
Updated
18 December 2020
About this service
Eastbourne & District Mencap - Arundel Road is a residential care home that accommodates up to nine people with learning disabilities, including autism, and associated physical, sensory disabilities and/or dementia. At the time of the inspection there were eight people living at 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 received 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
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice, control, independence and inclusion. People’s support focussed on them having opportunities to maintain relationships, engage in activities of their choice and maintain their independence.
People were unable to tell us if they felt safe but we observed positive interaction between staff and people living in the home. Staff had completed safeguarding training and explained how they would protect people from harm and what action they would take if they had any concerns. Relatives were confident their family members were safe, and they received the care and support they needed.
An ongoing training programme helped staff develop the skills and knowledge to provide appropriate support and staff clearly knew people very well. The aim of the service was to support people to be as independent as possible and make choices about all aspects of the support they received. This included the activities they took part in, where they spent their time and the food they ate.
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.
The registered manager encouraged people, relatives, staff and professionals to discuss and offer feedback about the services provided. An effective quality assurance and monitoring system was used to identify areas where improvements were needed and action was taken to address them.
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.
As part of a thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. The home did not use physical restraint but, supported people to sit safely in wheelchairs using belts, which had been agreed with the local authority.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
At the last inspection the rating was Good (published on 18 March 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.