Scremby Grange

Updated 4 July 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

Scremby Grange is registered as a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

The registered provider was given a short period of notice before we undertook our inspection visit. This was because people often went out into the community to take part in activities or to visit their friends or relatives. We therefore needed to be sure that they, the registered manager and staff would be in.

What we did:

In planning our inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included any notifications (events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about).

The registered provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

In addition, we considered our last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other agencies such as commissioners who had a contract with the service.

We also contacted Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

During our inspection visit we spoke with six people who lived at the service. We also spoke with the registered providers operations manager, the registered providers head of supported employment, the registered manager, one of the deputy managers, seven of the care staff team and a visiting external health care professional who regularly worked with the service.

We reviewed specific parts of three people’s care records and the arrangements in place for the administration of medicines. A variety of records related to the management of the service, including the registered providers recruitment processes and operational policies and procedures were also reviewed.

After the inspection:

Following our inspection visit we spoke with three relatives of people who lived at the service by telephone to seek their views of the care being provided to their loved ones. In addition, we spoke with the registered providers director of care and independence.

We also continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to support and validate the evidence we found during our inspection. The registered manager provided us with a range of additional audit and quality assurance information as part of this process.

Updated 4 July 2019

About the service:

Scremby Grange is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 17 people who have a learning disability and/or autism. The service supports people with complex needs and who need extra space and care to be able to fulfil their potential. The service is set out as a main house and seven individual bungalows. There were 14 people living at the service on the day of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

Scremby Grange had been designed and developed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence.

The service applied those principles and values and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people reflected this. 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’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were respected and upheld.

People told us they felt safe living at Scremby Grange. Staff understood how to protect people from the risk of abuse and plans were in place to minimise any identified risks to people’s health and well-being. People received their medicines as required.

There were enough staff, who were well trained and supported, to make sure people received the personalised care and support they needed. People had access to healthcare when they needed it and staff sought advice from and worked closely with specialist health services wherever it was appropriate. People were encouraged to have a varied and balanced diet to help them stay healthy.

The registered manager and staff knew people well and treated them with care and respect. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care wherever they were able to be. The registered manager and staff worked creatively with people in order to provide opportunities for people to develop their life skills and independence.

Systems were in place to monitor the safety and quality of the services provided for people. Actions were taken, and any improvements needed were made quickly when required.

The registered manager promoted an open and inclusive culture where people, and the staff who supported them, could express their views and opinions and be involved in the running of the service.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection we gave the service a rating of ‘Good’ (published 02 October 2016).

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 we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk