An Darach House

Updated 22 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We inspected An Darach House on 16 October 2018. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors. The inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection visit because it is a small home and the people who live there are often out enjoying activities within the community. We wanted to offer people the opportunity to be involved in the inspection visit.

Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports, information received from external agencies and statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the visit we spent time with four people who used the service. Due to their communication needs we were not able to have extended conversations with them so we also relied on observations and spoke with the family members of two people to get their views.

We spoke with three members of care staff, the manager, an Area Manager and the provider’s Compliance Officer. We looked at the care records for three people who used the service, medicines records for those three people, three staff recruitment and training records, as well as a range of other records relating to the running of the service including audits carried out by the manager and the provider.

Updated 22 November 2018

We inspected An Darach House on 16 October 2018. The inspection was announced.

An Darach House is located in the village of North Scarle, Lincolnshire. An Darach House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home can accommodate up to six people who experience learning disabilities.

On the day of our inspection six people were living at the home.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion.

People were cared for by staff who knew how to recognise abuse and how to respond to concerns. Risks in relation to people’s daily life were assessed and planned for. People lived in a clean and hygienic environment and were given appropriate support to manage their lifestyles and behaviours in the least restrictive way.

There were enough staff to ensure people received care and support when they needed it. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support for people. People were enabled to have maximum choice and control over their lives and policies and systems within the home supported this practice.

People were cared for by staff who were well supported by the manager.

People were supported to maintain their nutrition and staff monitored and responded promptly to people’s health conditions.

People’s needs were monitored and reviewed and staff cared about the individual they were supporting. Staff listened to people and got to know them well. People were supported to enjoy a varied social life.

There was an open and transparent culture. People were encouraged to give their views on how the service was run and there were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.