Isaac Robinson Court - Care Home

About the service

Isaac Robinson Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to a maximum of 40 people with a learning disability and/or autism. There were 31 people living at the service at the time of the inspection. The service had 3 bungalows for people who lived there permanently, and 1 bungalow for people who required respite care. In addition, there were 2 flats for people who were more independent.

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

Right Support:

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. The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well-equipped, well-furnished environment that met their sensory and physical needs. Staff communicated with people in a way that met their needs and people were supported to take their medicines to achieve the best possible health outcome.

Right Care:

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs, and this promoted their well being and enjoyment of life.

Right Culture:

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of management and staff. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. People and those important to them, including advocates were involved in planning their care.

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 30 September 2019)

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Isaac Robinson Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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

Isaac Robinson Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to a maximum or 40 with a learning disability and autism. There were 28 people living permanently at the service at the time of the inspection. The service had three bungalows for people who lived there on a permanent basis and two bungalows for people who had respite care. In addition, there were two flats for people who were more independent.

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. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People lived in a clean and safe environment. Staff knew how to keep people safe and how to raise concerns. Staff completed risk assessments to ensure risk was managed proportionately. There were enough staff to support people and they were recruited safely with all checks completed before they started work.

People had their needs assessed and care plans were produced to assist staff in supporting them in ways they preferred. For one person, their ongoing assessed needs had not been fully met; this had been addressed in a meeting with health and social care professionals. People’s general health and nutritional needs were met, and they received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff had access to training, supervision and support and told us the registered manager was always available when needed.

There were many examples of outstanding practice with regards to supporting people in a person-centred way. For example, with end of life care, in making connections with their local community, making friendships with other people and staff, attending functions and maintaining relationships with their families and friends. For one person, meeting their needs in a person-centred way could have been improved. Staff were kind and caring, respected people’s privacy and dignity, and at times went over and above, supporting people with activities and outings in their own time.

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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. This included audits, surveys and a complaints process.

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 29 March 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information 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.

There are five purpose built single storey bungalows, three with eight single en suite bedrooms and two with six single bedrooms. There are two self-contained flats in the main building.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were supported by staff who understood the importance of protecting them from harm. Staff had received training in how to identify abuse and report this to the appropriate authorities.

Staff who had been recruited safely were provided in enough numbers to meet the needs of the people who used the service.

People were provided with wholesome and nutritionally balanced diet which was of their choosing.

Staff were provided with training in how to meet people’s needs and were supported to gain further qualifications.

People were supported to access health care professionals when needed. 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 support this practice.

Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and were kind and caring. They understood the importance of respecting people’s dignity and upholding their right to privacy.

A wide range of activities were provided for people to participate in, these included involvement with the local and wider community.

Complaints were investigated and resolved wherever possible to the complainants’ satisfaction. People received care which was tailored to their individual needs.

People who used the service, and those who had an interest in their welfare and wellbeing, were asked for their views about how the service was run.

Regular audits were carried out to ensure the service was safe and well run.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People told us they liked the meals provided and they had choices and alternatives. Comments included, 'It's great, you get what you want', 'The food is alright; I want to lose some weight and I've lost some' and 'I like the food. I like to have sausages and I have them.'

We found the service helped to keep people safe by ensuring policies and procedures were followed and that staff received training in how to safeguard people from abuse.

We found medicines were managed well, which ensured people received their medicines as prescribed. However, the room were medicines were stored was small, cluttered and hot on some occasions, making it difficult for staff to work in there safely.

We found staff had access to training and supervision to enable them to feel confident in supporting the people who used the service.

We found records used in the service were accurate and up to date. They were held securely but were accessible when required. An incident regarding a care file was being addressed by the registered manager.

People told us staff looked after them and they said they had access to health and social care professionals when required. Comments included, 'I have seen the doctor and got some cream for my rash', 'I have seen the nurse for a flu jab and another nurse. My key worker looks after this (hearing aid) and checks the battery 'and 'The staff are helping me to lose weight."

We found that staff had completed safeguarding training. People who used the service told us they felt safe in the home. They said they would tell the staff if they had any concerns. They also said these concerns would be addressed. One person said, 'I feel safe with the staff and other people.'

We found the service to be safe, clean, warm and well maintained.

People who used the service told us the staff were friendly and helpful. Comments included, 'The staff are really nice', 'You can have a laugh with them' and 'You ring the bell and the staff come to help."

We found that questionnaires were used and meetings were held to obtain people's views about the service. Audits and checks were carried out to ensure it remained a safe place for people.