The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Highfield House

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

104 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 4LW (01452) 309887

Provided and run by:
Care Community Limited

All Inspections

9 March 2016

During a routine inspection

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.

2 June 2015

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 15 and 16 January 2015. Breaches of legal requirements were found. After the comprehensive inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and a breach of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for (location's name) on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

There had been improvements to staff recruitment procedures although there was an inconsistent approach to checking information on Data and Baring Service (DBS) checks.

Notifications relating to the outcomes of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) had been sent to us without delay.

At the time of our inspection the service did not have a registered manager. 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.

15 and 16 January 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on the 15 and 16 January 2015 and was unannounced.

Highfield House provides residential care for six adults who have mental health disorders and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the home.

The service did not have a registered manager. The previous registered manager left in October 2014. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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. The service had been without a registered manager since October 2014. A new manager had been appointed who was applying to become registered with CQC.

People were not protected against being cared for by unsuitable staff because robust recruitment procedures were not always applied. There had been delays in notifying us of some incidents affecting the wellbeing of people living at the home. CQC monitors events affecting the welfare, health and safety of people living in the home through notifications that providers are required to send to us.

People were protected from the risk of abuse by staff who understood safeguarding procedures. In addition people’s medicines were managed safely. However people were not protected against the recruitment of unfit or inappropriate staff because robust recruitment procedures were not always applied.

People were supported by staff that received trained to carry out their role. The current arrangement of one waking and one sleeping staff at night were under review at the time of our visit. Staff were supported in their work by the management team. People were also protected by the correct use of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005.

People’s privacy, dignity and their choices about daily activities were respected by staff. People benefited from activities at the home and trips out in the community. There were arrangements in place for people to raise concerns about the service.

Monthly quality assurance checks on the service had been completed by the management as a way of ensuring the quality of the service provided.

We found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

We recommend that the service consult The Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 2001 as amended for information about storage for controlled drugs.

We recommend that the service consult The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.

26 September 2013

During a routine inspection

Due to people's complex needs, we were not able to speak to anyone during our inspection. However, we did speak to staff and look at records held by the provider.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment were planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. At the time of our inspection only three people lived in the home. We looked at the care files for the three people who used the service. The care files were up to date and person centred. Each person had a support plan in place that reflected their individual needs. We observed staff interacting with one person who used the service. The staff member spoke in a very kind and respectful way.

The staff had been trained to recognise any potential abuse. They had also been trained to safely administer people's medicines. We looked at people's medication charts and found no errors. Annual satisfaction surveys were sent out to staff and relatives. The feedback we saw from staff was generally positive. We also saw feedback from two families. They commented 'thanks for looking after him so well in the short time he spent with you'. The second family rated the care provided as good to excellent.