Archived: Highfield House

Updated 30 April 2016

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 9 and 11 March 2016 and was unannounced. One inspector carried out the inspection. We spoke with the acting manager and a deputy manager from another of the provider’s care homes and three members of staff. We spoke with one person using the service during our visit and another person on the telephone following our visit. During our visit we also spoke with a relative of a person using the service on the telephone. In addition we reviewed records for three people using the service, toured the premises and examined two staff recruitment files. We also checked records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 30 April 2016

The inspection took place on the 9 and 11 March 2016 and was unannounced. The home was last inspected on 2 June 2015 to check if breaches of regulations had been met. Prior to this breaches of regulation had been found at an inspection in December 2015. These were for shortfalls with staff recruitment and delays with notifications to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Highfield House provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning difficulties and mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were four people living at the home.

Highfield House did not have a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were at risk of receiving care from unsuitable staff because robust recruitment procedures were not being applied.

There were inconsistencies with some aspects of the management of people’s medicines.

Staff had the knowledge to protect people from abuse. Staff had the benefit of being able to undertake the care certificate qualification.

People’s rights were protected by the correct use of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. People’s health care needs were met through regular healthcare appointments and liaison with health care professionals. People were consulted about their choices for meals.

People received personalised care and there were arrangements in place to respond to concerns or complaints from people using the service and their representatives. Staff were caring and respectful in their approach to people and involved them in the planning and review of their care and support.

We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.