Background to this inspection
Updated
15 August 2023
The inspection
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was undertaken by 2 inspectors.
Service and service type
The Annex 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. The Annex 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
We gave the service 1 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed interactions between staff and people living at The Annex. We spoke with 10 members of staff in various roles.
We reviewed 2 people's care records and other records relating to people's care and support. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including policies and procedures.
Updated
15 August 2023
About the service
The Annex is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 2 young people between the age of 16 and 24 years old. At the time of the inspection 2 people resided at the home.
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.
Right Support:
People lived in a safe environment and received their medication safely. We identified some areas of further development around homely remedies and emergency evacuation plans.
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.
Safe recruitment processes were followed. Staff received on-going training and development to support them in their roles.
People were encouraged to have choice and support was personalised to their wishes. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible in their home and out in the community.
People were encouraged to undertake voluntary work, employment, vocational courses in line with their wishes and to explore new social, leisure and recreational interests. A range of activities were in place to support people’s personal and social development.
Right Care:
People were positive about the care and support they received. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff knowledgeable about the person and their support needs.
People were supported to be as independent as possible in the home. Staff knew people well, respectful of them as an individual.
Staff spoke passionately regarding the people they supported and working for the provider.
Right Culture:
People were encouraged to have choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people to be as independent as possible in their homes and out in the community.
The registered manager, senior staff and staff demonstrated a personal-centred culture which focused on meeting people's individual needs.
The registered manager was committed to developing people skills and opportunities to support future independence.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 06 January 2022 and this is the first inspection.
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.
Recommendations
We have made recommendation that the provider reviews its medication policy, and the registered manager reviews the emergency evacuation procedures at the home.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.