Denehurst

Updated 20 June 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 checked 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.

The inspection was carried out on 4 and 8 May 2018 by one inspector. The inspection was unannounced.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are events that happen in the home which the provider is required to tell us about law. We used this information to help us decide what areas to focus on during our inspection. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, such as what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help us decide what areas to focus on during our inspection.

We spoke with three people who lived at the home, two members of staff, the registered manager and the operations manager. We observed people being supported on both days of the inspection to help us understand their experiences of daily life in the home. Following the inspection we spoke with a healthcare professional who gave us their views about the service.

We looked at three people’s care records and pathway tracked two people’s care. Pathway tracking enables us to follow people’s care and to check they had received all the care and support they required. We looked at records related to the running of the home, including medicines management, staff recruitment, training and appraisal and systems for assessing the quality of the service provided.

Updated 20 June 2018

Denehurst provides accommodation and personal care for up to eleven people living with a learning disability, physical disability, sensory disability and/or mental health needs. The home is set back off a main road within easy walking distance of the town centre. The accommodation comprises a large lounge/diner overlooking the garden and a kitchen. At the time of our inspection nine people were living at the home.

The inspection was unannounced and was carried out on 4 and 8 May by one inspector.

Denehurst 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.

There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. 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 home is run.

The care service is delivered in line with the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion which ensure people using the service can live as ordinary life as any citizen.

There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people’s needs and keep them safe, both at home and when accessing their local community. Recruitment procedures were safe and ensured only suitable staff were employed to work at the home.

Staff received training, supervision and appraisal to support them in their roles and to provide them with the required skills, knowledge and competencies.

People were protected from abuse. Staff understood how to identify abuse and who to report to if they suspected abuse was taking place.

People’s medicines were managed safely. People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who had been trained to administer medicines safely.

Risks associated with people’s health, safety and welfare had been identified and assessed, and guidance was in place to help staff to reduce those risks. Emergency and evacuation procedures were in place and staff understood what to do in the event of an emergency.

People’s rights were protected because staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and worked within them. Deprivation of liberty safeguards had been submitted to the local authority for authorisation when required.

People had access to health care services when required and were supported by staff to maintain their health and wellbeing. People were offered a choice of food and drink that met their preferences and dietary needs.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people with dignity and respect. People were encouraged to maintain important relationships with family and friends.

Staff empowered people to make choices, take control of their lives and maintain their independence. People had access to advocacy services if they wanted this. People took part in a wide range of activities in line with their interests and life goals.

People and their relatives were involved in developing detailed support plans which provided guidance for staff in how the person would like their support to be received.

The provider met the Accessible Information Standards. Staff used a range of communication techniques and provided information to people in a way they could understand, such as signs, pictures and symbols which helped them to make informed choices.

Systems were in place to monitor and assess the quality and safety of the service. People and relatives were offered opportunities to feedback their views about the care provided and this was used to improve the service.

Complaints procedures were available and displayed throughout the home in picture format. People knew who to speak to if they wanted to complain.

There was a positive, supportive and open culture within the home. Staff felt supported by the registered manager who was approachable and involved them in the development of the service. The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, including submitting notifications of events as required to the commission.

We last inspected the service in May 2016 when we found no concerns and rated the service as good.