The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Pymhurst

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

11 Semaphore Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3PS (01483) 573318

Provided and run by:
Mrs P M Eales

All Inspections

6 February 2020

During a routine inspection

About the service

Pymhurst is a residential care home without nursing providing personal care to up to six people living with learning disabilities, some of whom may have additional physical and dementia support needs. At the time of our inspection there were three 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 ensured that people who used the service could live as full a life as possible and achieved 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 was appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

Staff valued people as individuals and provided with caring support at every stage of their lives, even if this meant thinking out of the box to arrange the multidisciplinary input and additional resources. People‘s choices were listened to, and they were provided with dignified, comforting and caring support.

People were supported to live active lives and felt valued. They enjoyed their favourite activities and had support to maintain relationships that were important to them. Staff involved people and supported them to communicate and express themselves.

People were 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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured that people who used the service could live as full a life as possible and achieved the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

There were enough staff so people could spend time chatting or enjoying one to one support with activities. Staff were competent and supported people effectively. Staff had up to date training and felt supported by the management and listened to. The registered manager followed safe recruitment practices.

Staff protected people from abuse and the risk of avoidable harm. Risks to people were assessed and multidisciplinary support was sought to ensure people could access equipment and support they required to keep well, safe and healthy. Staff knew how to safely support people with their medicines.

People’s nutritional needs were met and people could regularly access health services. The registered manager followed best practice guidance when planning care so people could be provided with high quality person-centred support responsive to their changing needs.

The provider had created a caring, homely and person-centred culture within the service. The registered manager ensured the quality and safety of the service was monitored and action taken to continuously improve the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 26 July 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.

23 June 2017

During a routine inspection

Pymhurst is a residential care home which is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the service.

At out last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Risks to people’s safety were well managed. Where accidents or incidents occurred action was taken to minimise the risk of them happening again. People received their medicines in line with their prescriptions and medicines were stored securely. Sufficient skilled staff were deployed to ensure people’s needs could be met safely. Recruitment checks ensured that staff employed were suitable to work at the service.

People were supported by staff who received induction, training and supervision to support them in their role. People told us they enjoyed the food and had a choice regarding their meals. Healthcare professionals were involved in people’s care where required and guidance was followed by staff. 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 knew them well and treated them with kindness. Staff respected people’s dignity and privacy. People were supported to maintain their independence. Relatives told us they were made to feel welcome when visiting the service.

Staff knew people’s needs and responded positively when changes occurred. Care plans were detailed and person centred and gave good guidance to staff on how to support people. Regular reviews were held and people and their relatives were encouraged to contribute. People had access to a range of activities in line with needs and preferences. A complaints policy was in place, there had been no complaints received since our last inspection.

Regular audits of the service were completed and action taken to resolve any issues highlighted. People and their relatives were given the opportunity to feedback on the quality of the service they received. Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and that the values expected of them were clear. Records were organised and stored securely.

13 April 2015

During a routine inspection

Pymhurst is a learning disability care home, and is registered to accommodate up to six people some of whom are living with dementia. The home is a period property with six bedrooms arranged over two floors. There were a total of 11 members of staff employed plus the registered manager. On the day of the visit three people were living at the home.

The inspection was announced and took place on the 13 April 2015.

The home had a registered manager in place. 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 requirements in the health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe living at the home because of the good care staff provided. Their relatives told us that the staff were caring and respectful and met their needs. Our observations confirmed this, and we found that there were systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm.

The provider had a good recruitment system in place. We found evidence that all relevant recruitment checks had been undertaken prior to staff starting work. There was enough staff with appropriate skills and experience to keep people safe.

Systems were in place to ensure that medicines were stored, administered and managed safely. We found that staff had the required training, and there were enough experienced staff to manage medicines appropriately and to meet people’s needs safely.

Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager and had received the training and information they needed to do their jobs well, and meet people’s care needs. Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager. Staff told us there was a good level of communication within the home which helped them to be aware of any changes. People and their relatives told us they could speak with the staff to raise any concerns, and they knew how to raise any concerns if they needed to. A relative told us any concerns were dealt with by the registered manager in a timely manner.

The registered manager and the staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). There were clear records in place to show who could represent people and act in their best interest if complex decisions were needed about their care.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the service and the care people received, and we saw that staff supported people with all their nutritional needs. People who required personalised diets such as soft diets had their needs monitored and had access to health care professionals who supported staff to meet people’s dietary needs.

Relatives told us the care people received was good and spoke positively about the care people received. We found that people’s care records, reviews and risk assessments were up to date. Relatives told us they were included in reviews and were notified of any changes in peoples care needs. Staff understood the needs of people and we observed that care was provided in a kind and caring manner.

Staff told us they received on-going training and understood their responsibilities, as well as the values of the service. They told us they had received training to ensure the care provided to people was safe and met their needs. Staff told us they received regular supervision and support to assist them to deliver care that was relevant to meet people’s needs. We observed that people received support around their personal care and nutritional needs.

We observed that people were encouraged to independent and were encouraged and supported to take part in their hobbies and interests, such watching their favourite DVDs and going shopping and visiting friends and family as well as other places in the community such as local restaurants.

We found that the service was well led and the staff was supported by the registered manager to do their jobs well. The staff and registered manager monitored and reviewed the quality of the quality of the service by asking people and their relative’s verbal questions relating to the quality of the service on a regular basis.

The registered manager had systems in place to gain people’s views about the service. These included residents meetings to identify, plan and make improvements to the service, such as where people decided to go on holiday and what internal refurbishment plans would be undertaken The registered manager promoted an open culture at the home, and relatives told us they felt able to approach the manager at any time to discuss concerns.

6 December 2013

During a routine inspection

There were four people living in the home at the time of this inspection. We spoke with two people who lived there and observed staff interactions with all four. We spoke with three staff members and the manager and read documentation.

When we talked with the people who lived there one person said 'I like it here. I like the staff they're very nice.' We saw people smiling broadly at staff members and welcoming their attention.

We saw staff asked people for their consent to assist them and a person's ability and right to refuse support and care was understood.

We observed staff treating people with respect and dignity. They were polite and patient in their interactions with people. The people who lived there had access, with staff assistance, to any medical support they required.

One person told us "we go out a lot" and we saw there was involvement in the local community, as on the day of the inspection when people were going out to the theatre for the afternoon.

Staff were knowledgeable about how to identify potential abuse and how to report any concerns.

There were safe systems for the receipt, storage, administration, recording and disposal of medicines.

Staff told us they were supported by the manager with one person saying they were 'brilliant.' Staff were trained and supported to carry out their role.

14 March 2013

During a routine inspection

When we inspected there were only four people in residence. We saw that the staff on duty were knowledgeable about each person's needs. We spoke with three people who all confirmed they were happy and liked living at 'Pymhurst'. One person was unable to communicate with us verbally because of their dementia. We saw from this person's physical appearance that they were well cared for by a team of staff who were friendly and attentive.

One person we spoke with was pleased to show us their bedroom and we saw it was personalised with their belongings. They said they liked looking after the pet cat, enjoyed going on outings, and were able to keep in touch with a friend living in the community. Another person said they liked "going out shopping" with staff.

We found 'Pymhurst' to be well organised, comfortable, and appropriately maintained. We saw that people conversed with staff and looked happy and relaxed in their company.

22 November 2011

During a routine inspection

A person using the service said they were very happy with the home and the way it was run. They had opportunity to express their views about its operation and to make or participate in making decisions relating to their care, support and treatment. They had been consulted at staff meetings and on a daily basis about the activities and leisure pursuits they wished to engage in. They told us how much they had enjoyed a holiday earlier this year. They said staff encouraged and supported them to maintain contact with friends. They were looking forward to the home's 'sherry and mince pie' party in December to which they had invited friends and neighbours.

The person we spoke with felt staff promoted and respected their privacy, independence and individuality. They had a choice of the times they got up and went to bed, of meals and clothes. Staff supported them to budget their money and manage their bank account. They said they liked all the staff and felt safe in their care. They told us the home was always clean and tidy.