Background to this inspection
Updated
18 December 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 one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Homefield View 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 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
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. 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 all of this information to plan our inspection.
The provider had submitted a 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 viewed this on the day of the inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the area manager, registered manager, three deputy managers, HR manager and three support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and three medicine records. We also examined records in relation to the management of the service such as staff recruitment files, quality assurance checks, staff training records, safeguarding information and accidents and incident information.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We look at policies and procedures, feedback surveys and staff meeting minutes.
Updated
18 December 2019
About the service
Homefield View provides residential care and support to people with learning disabilities in the further education sector. The service can support six people. Six young adults were using the service at the time of inspection. Everyone using the service attends college during the day. Some people return to their family homes at weekends and in college holidays.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There were some areas where processes needed to be strengthened and the registered manager was already working on these. These included effective processes for management oversight of the quality assurance system, embedding a schedule of regular team meetings and staff supervision sessions and ensuring that care files contained all assessments, for example, those relating to mental capacity decisions.
People were cared for safely. A range of individual risk assessments were in place to reduce known risks to people. Staff understood safeguarding procedures. Safe recruitment practices were followed to ensure staff were suitable for their roles.
There were enough staff to meet people’s care needs. People were supported with their medicines. The service was clean and fresh, all staff had been trained in infection control.
People’s care records contained information covering all aspects of their care and support needs. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and individual preferences. People’s personal histories, preferences and dislikes, diversity needs such as cultural or religious needs and links with family were all considered within the care plans. Staff received training to meet people’s needs.
Where required, people were supported with their eating and drinking to ensure their dietary requirements were met. People were supported to access health care services when needed.
People received support from reliable, compassionate staff. Staff enjoyed working at the service and there was good communication and team work. Staff were caring in their approach and had good relationships with people. People were treated with respect. Staff maintained people’s dignity and promoted their independence. Consent was sought, and staff took time to help people communicate their wishes using their preferred means.
The registered manager worked in an open and transparent way and was passionate about ensuring that people received good care. The service was in regular communication with relatives. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint and were confident that any issues raised would be dealt with.
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 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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
The last rating for this service was Good (published July 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.