• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: BDC-Northern House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

7 Dunheved Road North, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 6AH (020) 8683 4841

Provided and run by:
BDC-Northern House Limited

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 27 January 2017

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.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR).The PIR 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.

Prior to our visit we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider and other information we hold about the service including any safeguarding alerts and outcomes, complaints and inspection history. Notifications are information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. We also reviewed information from the local authority commissioners who had completed monitoring visits to the service.

The inspection took place on the 24 November 2016 and was unannounced. 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.

We spoke with three people who used the service, the acting manager and three members of staff. Due to their needs, other people living at Northern House were unable to share their views and experiences. We observed the interactions between staff and people and reviewed care records for three people. During our visit we also spoke on the telephone with three people’s relatives.

We looked around the premises and checked records for the management of the service including staffing rotas, quality assurance arrangements, meeting minutes and health and safety records. We checked recruitment records for two members of staff. We also reviewed how medicines were managed and the records relating to this.

Following our inspection, the manager sent us information we had requested about staff training, quality assurance findings and planned improvements.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 27 January 2017

This inspection took place on 24 November 2016 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in December 2014 the provider met the regulations we inspected.

BDC Northern House provides accommodation and personal support for up to eight people with learning disabilities. Accommodation is provided over two floors and there is wheelchair access on the ground floor. There were seven women using the service at the time of our inspection.

When we inspected, a new manager had been appointed. They were in process of applying to register and were already registered for a second care home owned by the registered provider. The second care home was next door to BDC Northern House. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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 service is run.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe at BDC Northern House. Care records reflected people’s identified needs and the associated risks to their health and welfare. Staff knew how to manage these risks and the correct procedures to follow if they considered someone was at risk of harm or abuse. The provider was open and honest when safeguarding concerns had been raised and worked with professionals to improve.

People were supported by adequate numbers of staff who had been safely recruited. Staff were provided with relevant training to meet people’s individual needs. They were supported to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills through regular supervision.

The home was well maintained and equipped with appropriate aids and adaptations to meet people’s individual needs. Health and safety checks were carried out to make sure the premises and equipment was safe for people to use.

People were supported to keep healthy and received the assistance they needed to eat and drink well. Any changes to their health or wellbeing were responded to quickly. Staff worked effectively with other professionals to ensure people received the care and support they needed. Medicines were managed, stored and disposed of appropriately. There were systems for checking that people received their medicines correctly and that staff administered medicines safely.

Staff treated people with dignity, respect and kindness. They knew people well and were aware of their needs, likes and dislikes and preferred methods of communication. Care records were up to date and gave staff information about how to support people in the right way.

People’s care records recognised their rights and were person centred. 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 took part in activities that interested them and were supported to maintain relationships with those close to them. Relatives and friends were welcome to visit when they wished and invited to participate in social events at the home.

There was an open and inclusive atmosphere in the service and the manager showed effective leadership. The manager knew what was working well and what needed improving in the home. Audits and checks were used to monitor the quality of care people received. People and their relatives were encouraged to share their views and experiences and were involved in developing the service.