Archived: Draycombe House

Updated 31 August 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. 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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

Service and service type

Draycombe House is 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. In addition, the service operates a small domiciliary agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. However, there was an application ongoing to have the new manager registered with CQC who had commenced employment at the end of July 2019.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be available to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including information from the provider about important events that had taken place at the service, which they are required to send us. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch Lancashire. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who lived at the home, one person who received a domiciliary service and the provider. In addition, we spoke with two staff members, the new manager and two relatives about their experiences of Draycombe House. We observed care practices and how staff interacted with people. This helped us understand the experience of people supported by the service.

We looked at care records of two people and arrangements for meal provision. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service and medicines records of two people. We reviewed staffing levels and walked around the building to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

After the inspection

We continued to communicate with the provider to corroborate our findings and further information was sent by the provider in response to the feedback provided during the inspection visit.

Updated 31 August 2019

About The service

Draycombe House provides care for a maximum of six adults with a learning disability. It is a large detached property, which is relatively close to shops and local amenities. Accommodation is situated on the ground floor with some en suite facilities available. Private car parking is available in the grounds. There were five residents living at the home at the time of the inspection.

The service also provides a small domiciliary personal care service to three people in the local area. This includes one person who lives independently on the premises of Draycombe House.

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.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the provider and manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

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

People were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm by staff who were trained to protect them and experienced to respond to concerns. The management team ensured any incidents were recorded and investigated. People were supported to manage the risks in their daily lives. Staff continued to be recruited safely and sufficient numbers of staff supported people to maintain an independent life as possible. Medicines were managed safely. Infection control systems and audits continued to ensure a clean environment and reduce any risks.

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. People’s needs were assessed prior to them living at Draycombe House. People were encouraged to support staff with food shopping and cooking meals as part of their care plan if they wished to. Healthy eating was promoted and people enjoyed meal provision at Draycombe house. Staff confirmed they had received training and access to courses was supported by the management team. The service continued to work effectively with healthcare professionals. Visits and outcomes were recorded to ensure people received the right care.

People told us staff were caring and always showed kindness, respect and compassion. People, and where appropriate their relatives had been consulted about their care needs They were involved in the care planning process. Staff worked in respectful ways to maintain people's privacy and dignity.

People received person-centred care which was responsive to their needs. Care and support plans had been regularly reviewed to reflect any changes in the person’s care. Activities in the home and the community were arranged in consultation of peoples wishes and interests. People were encouraged to raise any concerns. No formal complaints had been received since the previous inspection.

The provider used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, meetings and surveys to seek their views about the service provided.

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

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 12 January 2016)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating

Follow up: The next scheduled inspection will be in keeping with the overall rating. We will continue to monitor information we receive from and about the service. We may inspect sooner if we receive concerning information about the service.