Archived: Larchpine

Updated 13 July 2017

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. This was a comprehensive inspection.

This inspection took place on 13 June 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector. Before the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. The provider had not been asked to complete a Provider Information Return prior to this inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We discussed this information with the registered manager and operations manager during the inspection.

People living at Larchpine were not able to share with us their experiences of living at the service. Therefore we spent time observing staff with people in communal areas and during lunchtime. We spoke with three care staff, the registered manager and the provider’s operational manager. We spoke with the relatives of two people and a Speech and Language Therapist who supported people at the service.

We reviewed records which included two people’s care and support plans, two staff recruitment and supervision records, and the medication administration records of five people. We reviewed staff training records, the staff rota for the period 17 April to 13 June 2017, staff meeting minutes, quality assurance documents and other documents relating to the management of the home.

Updated 13 July 2017

Care service description

Larchpine is a residential care home service for five people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. People are accommodated in single rooms on one level and the layout of the home enables people who use wheelchairs to access all areas of the home. The home has a secure garden and communal areas including a kitchen dining room, conservatory and lounge.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

People were protected from the risk of potential abuse and appropriately supported by staff to manage assessed risks to their health and wellbeing. Staffing levels and recruitment processes were appropriate to support people safely. People’s medicines were managed safely.

Staff completed training and received supervision to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge to support people according to their needs. 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 support this practice.

People were cared for by kind and caring staff. People were supported to take part in decisions about their care and treatment using their preferred methods of communication. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff and relatives told us staff had built positive trusting relationships with the people they supported.

People’s care and support needs were set out in a written plan that described what staff needed to do to make sure personalised care was provided. People received care and support in line with their care plan to achieve positive outcomes in their health and wellbeing. People were supported to take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests. A system was in place for people and their representative to raise concerns and make complaints. The complaints procedure was displayed in an accessible format for people.

There was a positive, open and inclusive culture in the home. The registered manager and staff understood and acted in accordance with the provider’s vision and values to promote; choice, independence, inclusion and support people to experience a good quality of life. Systems were in place to make sure the service was managed efficiently and to monitor and assess the quality of service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below