We carried out a review of the data available to us about Elston House 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 Elston House, you can give feedback on this service.
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.
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.
We found the following examples of good practice.
¿ The service had successfully found ways to safely support all eight people to be tested for Covid-19. All staff were regularly tested.
¿ Visiting arrangements were controlled and regularly reviewed. The service had a system in place for essential visitors, which included a temperature check, facilities for hand sanitising, and the requirement to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on entering the home.
¿ People had individual visitor/family contact plans as part of their care plan to make sure their social contact needs continued to be met as far as safely possible.
¿ The provider had ensured information about Covid-19 tests, and the measures they had put in place to support people, had been regularly communicated to people’s relatives.
¿ The provider had reasonable measures in place to reduce the proximity of people, who had tested positive for Covid-19, from those who had tested negative. On occasions when that was not possible, the provider had enhanced cleaning processes in place to reduce the risks.
¿ Detailed information was displayed around the home to remind people how to wash their hands effectively, the importance of social distancing, and why people wear PPE.
¿ Staff wore the necessary PPE, in line with best practice guidance, and had a designated area for putting it on and taking it off. Used PPE was safely disposed of.
¿ Although all rooms in the care home already appeared clean and uncluttered, the provider was in the process of further enhancing their deep cleaning arrangements; as part of their attempts to reduce the potential spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The care service has been developed and designed 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. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
On the day of our inspection there was a registered manager in post who was available throughout the 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 living at the service were protected from harm as the provider had robust processes in place to ensure their safety. Staff were aware of these processes and understood their responsibilities in relation to protecting people from abuse. They had received appropriate training to support their understanding of any safeguarding issues. The registered manager reported any issues of concern to both the CQC and the local safeguarding teams and worked in an open and transparent manner. There were clear processes in place to ensure lessons were learnt following any incidents or events.
The risks to people’s safety were clearly identified and measures in place to reduce these risks. The environment was well maintained and essential equipment regularly maintained.
People were supported by well trained and competent staff in sufficient numbers to keep them safe. Their medicines were managed safely and people were protected from the risk of infection through good hygiene practices and staff knowledge on reducing the risks of cross infection.
People’s needs were assessed using effective evidenced based assessment tools. These were then used to provide clear guidance for staff to assist them to gain a good understanding of an individual’s needs and offer the most effective support to people. Staff were supported with appropriate training for their roles. This included mandatory training and specialist training to manage the different aspects of people’s care.
People were supported to maintain a healthy diet, with all staff showing excellent knowledge of each person’s nutritional needs. There were a number of initiatives in place to support people achieve a healthy lifestyle.
People received excellent support to manage their health needs through well-developed links with internal and external health professionals. Staff used the guidance and support available to affect positive outcomes for people to manage their health needs.
People lived in a well maintained safe environment that supported their privacy and provided space to enjoy a number of social activities.
Staff sought consent from people before caring for them and they clearly understood and followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA). Staff took great care and time to ensure that the views of people with communication difficulties were captured and acted upon. The service was extremely person-centred and the staff were passionate about caring for people, without discrimination.
People at the service and relatives were treated universally with kindness, compassion and care by a group of staff who supported people with respect and dignity, and developed positive relationships with people based on empowerment, equality and trust.
People were able to maintain relationships with people who were important to them and relatives felt their views and opinions about their loved one’s care were always listened to.
The care people received was tailored to meet their individual needs, people’s views and preferences were embedded in the care they received. They were supported to communicate in ways individual to them. People were supported to lead fulfilling lives and staff worked continuously to support people achieve their full potential.
Information about people’s care was provided in formats that people could understand. There was an easy read complaints procedure available for people to read and relatives told us they knew who to raise complaints or concerns to should their have any.
The service was extremely well led, with a clear focus on person centred care, empowering people and their relatives to be involved in their care planning, making their wishes known and supporting them to be as independent as possible. The quality assurance systems in place were used effectively to monitor performance and quality of care and the registered manager responded positively to changes and used information to improve the service and care people received.