We carried out a review of the data available to us about Carlene House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Carlene House, you can give feedback on this service.
Carlene House provides care and support for up to ten adults with learning disabilities. Ten people were using the service at the time of inspection.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There were systems to reduce the risk of abuse and to assess and monitor potential risks to people who used the service. People were protected by safe recruitment procedures. There were enough staff to meet their care and support needs. The provider had a system in place to record and monitor accidents and incidents. Medicines were managed in a safe way. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection.
People were supported by staff who had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet their needs. They had access to appropriate health care professionals when required. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff encouraged people to have a healthy and nutritious diet.
People were treated with kindness and their privacy and dignity were respected. They received care and support from staff who knew them well. Staff supported people to maintain their independence where possible. People were able to make choices about their care and their views were taken into account.
People received personalised care, which was recorded in their care plans and reflected their wishes and preferences. Care plans were reviewed and updated in a timely manner. People were supported to engage in meaningful activities of their choice and were involved in the local community. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy about the support they received.
There was an open culture within the service, which was focussed on people. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them. There was a quality assurance system in place to monitor the quality of the service people received. The provider continually sought feedback about the service from people, relatives, staff and other professionals.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection the service was rated good (published 28 April 2017).
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
Carlene House provides care and support for up to ten adults with learning disabilities.
At the time of our inspection the home had 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
In January 2015, our inspection found that the service met the regulations we inspected against. At this inspection the home met the regulations.
Carlene House had a warm, welcoming atmosphere with people freely coming and going as they pleased. People’s body language showed that they enjoyed the way that staff provided care and support for them and living at the home. People engaged in a variety of activities. They chose their activities themselves, when they wanted to do them and with whom. They were safe in the home and the local community. There was positive interaction between people using the service and also with staff.
People were provided with information about any activities taking place so they could decide if they wanted to join in. Staff provided care and support in a friendly, professional and supportive way that was focussed on people as individuals. Staff told us they knew people who use the service and their likes and dislikes well. Staff were well trained, had appropriate skills and were accessible to people. They said they really enjoyed working at the home and received good training and support from the manager.
The home records were accessible, kept up to date and covered all relevant aspects of the care and support that people received. This included the choices people made, activities they attended and way their safety was protected. People’s care plans were completed and the information contained was regularly reviewed. This enabled staff to perform their duties competently and efficiently. People were encouraged and supported by staff to address their health needs and had access to GP’s and other community based health professionals. People were supported to be healthy by choosing nutritious, balanced meals that promoted a healthy diet whilst taking into account their likes, dislikes and preferences. This meant people were protected from nutrition and hydration associated risks. We saw that people enjoyed the meals provided and that they were of good quality with plenty of choice.
Relatives told us the manager and staff were very approachable, responsive to requests made or concerns raised, frequently encouraged feedback and acted upon it. The manager consistently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided and encouraged all staff to put forward ideas that may improve the quality of life of people using the service. Staff were also encouraged to utilise their talents in areas that would not normally come under the remit of their roles, such as the pantomime that people using the service perform annually.
We inspected Carlene House on 8 January 2015. The inspection was unannounced.
Carlene House is a care home for people with learning disabilities. At the time of our visit there were ten people living at Carlene House which is the maximum number of people the home was registered to take.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
People told us they were safe. This was also the view of their relatives. Care was planned and delivered to ensure people were protected against abuse and avoidable harm. There was a sufficient number of suitable staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.
People’s medicines were appropriately managed so they received them safely. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to infection control. People were protected from the risk and spread of infection because staff followed the procedures in place. The home was clean and well maintained.
People were cared for by management and staff who had the necessary experience and knowledge to support them to have a good quality of life. Staff knew how to deal with each person’s behaviour that challenged others. Staff understood the relevant requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and how it applied to people in their care.
Staff enjoyed working with the people in their care. People were treated with respect, compassion and kindness. It was clear that people’s individuality was at the centre of how their care was delivered. They were fully involved in making decisions about their care including what they ate and how they spent their time day-to-day. Where appropriate their relatives were also involved. People were supported to express their views and give feedback on the care they received.
Staff knew what constituted a balanced diet. People were given a choice of nutritious meals and had enough to eat and drink. People received the help they needed to maintain good health and had access to a variety of healthcare professionals.
Many of the people living at the home had lived there a long time. The management and staff knew people well. They knew their routines and preferences and understood what was important to them. Relatives were made to feel welcome and were regularly consulted about how people were supported.
The registered manager understood what was necessary to provide a quality service and had a variety of systems in place to regularly check and monitor the quality of care people received.
Residents told us that they were happy living at Carlene House and relatives we spoke with said the same. One relative said, 'I am extremely content with the care they (the residents) receive, we are involved in their care plans and the reviews, I have no concerns at all'. One resident said, 'It's nice here, staff are kind to me and I see my family at weekends'. Residents were at the centre of the care and support they were given.
Residents told us that they were able to make choices about the menu options and their activities and holidays. Two residents told us that they had had a 'fantastic holiday at Centre Parks. It was a wonderful week'.
Residents told us that they felt safe and well supported at Carlene House and that they were respected and treated with dignity by staff.
Overall, we have found that Carlene House meets the essential standards. Please see main report for this information.