Halas Homes

Updated 26 February 2022

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 legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on the 1 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 26 February 2022

Halas Homes is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. We regulate both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The provider is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 37 people. The service supported adults who might have autism or a learning disability. Some people had additional sensory or physical impairments. Most people lived in the main house with four people living more independently in a separate house staffed by the same staff team. There was an on-site facility ‘The Meeting Place’ where people undertook a variety of social and recreational activities. On the day of our inspection 29 people lived at the home.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this announced inspection on 16 August 2018 we found the service remained Good in Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. The service had progressed to Outstanding in Responsive giving it an overall rating of Good.

This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

We found that Halas Homes reflected the values that underpin Registering the Right Support. By this we mean the provider had developed their service to ensure people with learning disabilities and autism are supported to live as ordinary a life as any other person. They are provided with choice and there is promotion of people’s independence and a focus on inclusion.

People received a service that was focused on their individual needs and preferences. They had new and exciting opportunities to enhance their social and recreational experiences and celebrate their abilities. The service had a key role in the local community and had actively built links with local schools, colleges; local people and the wider community so that people were supported to live as full a life as possible. People had access to a complaints procedure and were confident their complaints would be addressed.

There was a registered manager in post and she was present during our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe and staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. People were supported to take part in everyday living tasks and to do the things that they enjoyed. The risks associated with these activities were well managed so that people could undertake these safely and without any restrictions. Consistent staffing levels ensured people had the support they needed. Staff were motivated, trained and knowledgeable about the needs of people. Recruitment processes remained safe with checks in place to ensure staff suitability. In addition, people were involved in selecting staff of the right character to provide their care and support. People had support to take their medicines safely. Staff followed infection control guidance and maintained a clean and hygienic living environment for people. There were processes in place to learn lessons and improve people's experiences when things went wrong.

People were fully involved in identifying their needs. Staff continued to receive regular and relevant training and support to enhance their skills and knowledge. People were supported with their meals and took an active part in shopping, cooking and preparing meals. Effective monitoring was in place for those people who needed support to eat and drink enough. People had support to maintain their health and staff were proactive in supporting them to access healthcare services. 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 practice.

People were supported by staff who were caring and attentive. Staff promoted people's preferred communication methods to ensure their individual choices were fully respected. Staff had a thorough understanding of promoting and respecting people's privacy, dignity and independence and their practice reflected the principles of good care.

The provider had a clear management structure and had actively looked at ways to benefit the lives of people living at the home. There was a focus on continuous improvement which was reflected in their development of and commitment to increased opportunities for people. The provider worked in partnership with several other agencies to ensure people received the right support. Staff felt supported and valued in their work. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the care provided and to ensure people received quality care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.