Number Residential Care Home

Updated 17 December 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 an inspector and an Expert by Experience made calls to relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Number Residential Care Home 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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, 2 deputy managers, administration officer, a senior carer and 2 support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included care records of 4 people who used the service, this included their care plan, risk assessment and daily records of care. We also reviewed medication administration records for 3 people. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the maintenance of the building, including servicing contracts and records related to the running of the service.

Updated 17 December 2022

About the service

Number Residential Care Home is a residential care home which provides accommodation and personal care to up to 10 people with mental health needs and learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection 10 people were living at the service. Number Residential Care Home is a care home set up in an adapted residential building over 2 floors.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right support.

People were mostly 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. People were encouraged to make choices and decisions in accordance with their level of understanding.

People and relatives told us they felt safe at the service. People were protected from the risk of abuse or harm because staff knew the action to take should they suspect or witness any abuse. Risks to people were assessed and appropriately managed to ensure people received safe care. Appropriate infection control practices were followed by staff. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure staff employed were safe to work with people. We found some areas for improvement were required in relation to recruitment records. Systems were in place to report and learn from any incidents where restrictive practices were used.

People were cared for and supported by staff who were suitably trained and supported to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities.

Right care

Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. Relatives told us staff were kind and caring towards their relative and treated them with dignity and respect. Relatives confirmed they were included in decision making about their relative’s care. People were supported to maintain their privacy, dignity and independence by staff who knew them well.

People had their communication needs met and information was shared in a way that could be understood.

People were supported to access food and drink that met their dietary needs and wishes. People were supported to stay healthy and well. Staffing levels were determined by the level of individual care required for people using the service and funding arrangements.

Right culture

The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of management and care staff promoted a service which was inclusive, empowered and encouraged good outcomes for people who used the service. We found some rooms lacked personalisation, the registered manager told us this was due to people who expressed anxiety and anxiousness. Relatives and staff spoke positively of the managers, including the registered manager. The deputy managers ensured that staff had relevant training, supervision and appraisal. Governance systems ensured people were kept safe and received high quality care and support in line with their personal needs. Staff worked with other services and professionals to improve outcomes for people.

Relatives told us they were able to speak to management any time and were listened to. The management team was described as approachable and took action to resolve issues where needed. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and were listened to and encouraged to discuss their views about the service.

Systems for monitoring the quality of the service were in place and regular audits took place. Continuous learning took place to improve the quality of the service provided to people.

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

The last rating for this service was rated good (published 14 August 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the provider in relation to the management of the service, staffing levels, recruitment and medicines management. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Number Residential Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.