We carried out a review of the data available to us about Cross Heath Grove on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Cross Heath Grove, you can give feedback on this service.
Cross Heath Grove is a short break residential care service which aims to provide a holiday style atmosphere for up to five people who have a learning disability. Accommodation is in a purpose-built house with five bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities. Communal lounges, kitchen and dining areas are provided. In total the service provides care for 41 people. At the time of our inspection the care home was providing care for two people.
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.
People’s experience of using the service
People said they felt safe and systems were in place to ensure they were protected from possible harm or abuse.
Medicines were managed safely and protocols for ‘as required’ medicines were in place. Staff had received competency assessments and medicine training to ensure safer medicines management.
Initial assessments were carried out and pre-admission reviews were held with people to ensure their care needs were known prior to people staying in respite.
Risk assessments had been completed and were regularly reviewed. There were procedures and systems in place to manage incidents and accidents effectively; lessons were learned to prevent future risks.
Staff had the skills and were experienced to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff completed training and supervisions.
People said staff listened to them, were kind, caring and made them laugh. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their dignity. People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care. People's right to privacy was maintained by staff.
Staff understood people’s preferences and people were offered choices about their care. Staff were provided with specific guidance for how to communicate with people effectively.
People were involved in meal choices and supported to maintain a balanced diet. Health needs were regularly monitored, and staff accessed advice from health care professionals when required.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
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.
People told us they knew how to complain. There were policies and procedures in place to manage any complaints effectively. The service had not received any formal complaints since our last inspection.
The provider used internal audit systems to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. People were asked for their views and staff engaged with other services within the provider’s organisation to improve their knowledge of good practice.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service was requires improvement (published 7 December 2018).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
Cross Heath Drive is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. We spoke with the manager regarding the name of the service and they told us the service was actually called Cross Heath Grove.
At the time of registration, the care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The service was working in line with these principles, which included choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
Cross Heath Drive is a short break residential care service which aims to provide a holiday style atmosphere for up to five people who have a learning disability. Accommodation is in a purpose-built house with five bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities. Communal lounges, kitchen and dining areas are provided.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection, but they were moving to a new post within the company. A new manager was in the process of registering with Care Quality Commission (CQC). It was the new manager who I spoke with during this inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.
Areas of people’s medicines were not well managed. Although, the evidence suggested this did not negatively impact on people’s well-being and the manager made immediate changes to rectify this.
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 did not support this practice, as decision specific mental capacity assessments were not in place.
Quality management systems were in place but these were not always effective. The audits did not identify the concerns found during this inspection, which included, making sure areas of people’s support plans were up to date and accurate recording of people’s medications administration.
Accidents and incidents were analysed in a way which enabled trends to be identified. People and staff had opportunity to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery. Complaints were welcomed and there was a system in place for handling complaints.
People received appropriate support for their nutrition and hydration needs. People had access to local healthcare professional, when needed, to make sure their health needs were met. Although, records regarding any unplanned admissions to hospital had not been updated for some time. Advocacy services were available if people, so wished.
Relatives told us their family member was safe when during their stay. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what to do to keep people safe.
The building was well maintained and regular safety checks took place. Plans were in place to safely evacuate people in the case of emergencies, although, these had not been reviewed for some time. We found the home was clean, tidy and well maintained. People had brought items from home to personalise their bedroom. Communal areas were comfortably furnished. The home was small with ramp access and wide door areas. People were familiar with the layout of the building.
We found people were supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Robust recruitment procedures were in place to make sure suitable staff worked with people who stayed at the service. Staff completed an induction when they started work. Staff received the training and support required to meet people’s needs.
People had access to a range of activities, both within the home and in the local community such as, going to day centres, events and nights out. Activities and daily pastimes were planned in a way to match people’s interests and preferences. People were encouraged and enabled to maintain contact with those important to them.
Prior to each stay, changes to people’s health and support needs were obtained. Support plans were person-centred and identified how care and support should be delivered. Throughout our inspection people were treated with kindness and staff had a good rapport with people. Staff clearly knew people well and worked together as a team to provide appropriate support. Support plans recorded if people had specific communication needs.
People’s dignity and privacy were respected and they were encouraged to maintain their independence and relationships with people who were important to them. We saw relevant information was shared between the staff team which, helped to ensure people received continuity of care. The home did not support anyone who was approaching the end of their life.
We found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report. This is the first time the service has been rated Requires Improvement.
Cross Heath Drive is a short break residential care service which aims to provide a holiday style atmosphere for up to five people who have a learning disability. Accommodation is in a purpose built house with five bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities. Communal lounges, kitchen and dining areas are provided. At the time of the inspection there were four people using the service.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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 who used the service and their relatives told us they were safe at Cross Heath Drive. The provider had taken appropriate action to minimise risks to people including training staff in safeguarding, adopting safe recruitment practices, keeping the premises clean and well maintained and assessing risks associated with people’s care and support needs in a robust way. We found all assessments of risk were kept up to date.
The provider had effective systems and procedures in place to manage people’s medicines safely. Any errors were identified quickly and appropriate action was taken to prevent their re-occurrence.
New staff received a thorough induction to prepare them for their roles. We found an effective programme of staff training in place and people told us they were supported by staff with appropriate skills.
We found the provider had ensured staff received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and we saw people were actively and appropriately supported to make choices.
People were supported to make choices about what they had to eat and we saw these were respected. People’s likes, dislikes and preferences were reflected in their care plans.
We received good feedback about the caring and dedicated nature of the staff. People and their relatives praised them highly. We found staff knew people who used the service well, and we observed a very relaxed and engaging atmosphere in the home.
Care plans were person centred and kept up to date. People’s relatives were contacted prior to a respite stay to ensure this information was reviewed and reflected people’s current preferences, needs and lifestyles. Annual reviews of care plans reflected the involvement of people, their relatives and other health and social care professionals involved in their support.
The provider was proactive in seeking people’s feedback about the service and thorough in ensuring concerns and complaints were logged and responded to.
Staff told us they had good support from the registered manager, service manager and senior staff. Staff told us there was a positive culture in the service which meant they felt consulted, informed and listened to.
Relatives we spoke to told us the service was well-led. They told us staff and management were approachable and easy to talk to.
The provider had a number of effective systems in place to drive quality in the service, and we saw these included listening to staff and people who used the service.