Archived: The Orchard

Updated 30 October 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 28 September 2018. The provider was given short notice of our intention to undertake the inspection to ensure people we needed to speak with would be available. The inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information in the PIR, along with other information that we held about the service including previous inspection reports.

We spoke with the person living at the home. We also spoke with the provider. We looked at the care plan and associated records for the person and records relating to the management of the service. We observed interactions between the provider and the person in communal areas of the home. We also received feedback from a social care professional.

At our last inspection, in December 2015, we identified no concerns.

Updated 30 October 2018

The Orchard is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC http://crmlive/epublicsector_oui_enu/images/oui_icons/cqc-expand-icon.pngregulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. This inspection took place on 28 September 2018.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The Orchard is a small house registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to two people. The premises are also the family home of the provider. One person with a learning disability was being accommodated, who had lived with the family for over 40 years. The home is a domestic house situated close to local facilities and shops.

The home was operated by a sole provider who employed no staff. We found they had not maintained an up to date knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the regulations. They had not addressed shortcomings in their training or ensured they were following best practice guidance in the support of people with a learning disability. We have made a recommendation about this.

The provider did not have a sound understanding of safeguarding procedures. They had not completed safeguarding training in recent years and had not established effective systems to protect people from the risk of abuse. This was a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have taken at the back of the full version of the report.

Suitable arrangements were not in place to ensure the premises were safe to use. A suitable and sufficient fire safety risk assessment had not been completed and fire safety procedures were not robust. The electrical equipment and systems had not been checked since 2001. The provider had not completed food hygiene training to help ensure they prepared, stored and handled food safely.

Contingency arrangements had not been made to ensure the person would experience a smooth transition if they needed to transfer to another service.

However, the person’s individual needs were being met in a highly personalised and caring way. The provider had sufficient time to meet the person’s needs. The person’s nutritional needs were met effectively and they were supported to access healthcare services.

The person’s rights and freedom were protected. They were encouraged to be as independent as possible and were involved in discussions about their care and support needs.

The person was supported to take part in a range of activities, including in the local community. They were encouraged to express their views and make choices about how they spent each day. Their privacy was protected at all times.

There was an appropriate complaints procedure in place. Medicines were managed safely and the provider knew how to access support if the person needed to receive end of life care.