Cornfield House

Updated 2 June 2023

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cornfield House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Cornfield House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the notifications and any safeguarding alerts we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who used the service, 2 staff members the registered manager, and the operations manager. We also spoke to a visiting relative and an appointed advocate who was meeting with a person in the service. We spent time with people in areas throughout the service and observed interaction between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included people’s care records and medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were viewed, including health and safety records, maintenance checks and quality audits.

We contacted and received feedback from 3 visiting professional and a further relative.

Updated 2 June 2023

About the service

Cornfield House is a residential care home providing accommodation, personal care and support for up to 19 people with mental health needs in an adapted building. People using the service require minimal support and supervision to live safely in the community and may also have a learning disability. Cornfield House is located in a residential area within walking distance of Seaford town centre, provides single room accommodation, and en suite facilities to 3 rooms. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

At the time of the inspection the service supported one person with a learning disability, but people’s main need was mental health. We assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

Right Support:

Cornfield House is registered for 19 people which is larger than recommended, however the service was run in a way that met people’s needs and our guidance. The model of care and environment maximised people's choice, control and independence. There were separate communal areas and outside space that supported choice for people and provided space to spend time as they wanted. For example, quiet time away from other people.

Staff supported people to do as much as possible for themselves and to build their self-confidence. Promotion of independence was seen as important for everyone within individual abilities. One person has been supported to become independent enough to move to a flat. They were looking forward to their move. People were supported to be busy and to have fulfilling lives that included life activities and social events. Two people had been supported to take their first holiday abroad.

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.

People were supported to ensure they received their medicines in line with prescription guidelines. People's health needs were monitored, and they were supported to access to health care when needed.

Right Care:

People received kind and compassionate care. Their privacy and dignity was respected.

A visiting professional described how staff ensured they saw people privately. A relative described how staff had supported a person to make a will with their solicitor in the service.

Staff knew people well and responded to their individual needs. Each person had a key worker who had positive relationships with them. They worked as advocates, for example staff supported 1 person to see their solicitor privately in the home. A relative told us, “Staff are always there to support them.” Choices were provided to people in relation to how they spent their time and how they wanted to be supported.

Staff were aware of their responsibility to protect people from potential abuse and concerns were reported and dealt with in line with good practice and local guidelines. Staff understood people's mental health needs and how best to support people to maintain their health.

Right Culture:

The registered manager was providing effective hands-on leadership. Staff felt part of a team and people felt comfortable to approach staff, and the provider.

The registered manager worked hard at promoting a positive and inclusive environment where people and staff were valued and respected. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager and their ‘hands on approach’. People were comfortable with staff and the registered manager and sought them out for company and conversation.

Staff spoke positively about people's achievements and encouraged them to have full and varied lives, that they were in control of. A staff member said, “We never forget that this is their home.” A relative told us, “I know they are very happy at the home. They always ask when they are going home. That gives me great peace of mind.”

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 22 March 2023).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.