• Care Home
  • Care home

Regents Park

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

42 East Wonford Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3TF (01392) 209109

Provided and run by:
Regents Park Limited

All Inspections

10 November 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

42 East Wonford Hill is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities or sensory impairment. At the time of this inspection, there were five people living there. People had lived together for a number of years and knew each other well.

We found the following examples of good practice:

The staff were following up to date infection prevention and control guidance to help people to stay safe. There were suitable risk assessments and an up to date infection control policy and procedure in place. The registered manager ensured staff understood why every measure was in place.

Facilities were in place to wash hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the home. Visitors were supported to wear a face covering when visiting, and wash hands before/after mask use. All visitors were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before being allowed to enter the home and other signs of Covid-19. There was prominent signage and instructions to explain what people should do to ensure safety, including social distancing. Information was easily accessible on arrival or before visits to ensure visitors followed guidance, procedures or protocols to ensure compliance with infection prevention control.

The provider provided training to ensure staff knew how to keep people safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Staff supported people to occupy themselves whilst maintaining their safety. Activities had been improvised as people were unable to go out during ‘lockdown’, which is what they like to do. For example, a bakery day was held as people liked to visit the local bakers shop.

Staff helped people to stay in touch with their families. Alternative forms of maintaining social contact was used for families; for example: keeping in touch using video calls and a ‘drive by’ for a person's mum’s birthday.

The registered manager was communicating with people, staff and family members regularly to make sure everyone had an understanding of precautions being taken, and how to keep people safe.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

12 February 2020

During a routine inspection

About the service

42 East Wonford Hill is a 'care home' registered to provide accommodation and personal care support for up to six people living with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of this inspection five people were living there, all of them had been resident at the service for several years.

Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism were supported. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear clothes that suggested they were care staff in the service or when going out with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People living at 42 East Wonford Hill had little or no verbal communication. One person said they liked living there and staff were “kind.” Everyone appeared relaxed and happy in the service. All five people had been resident for a number of years and were familiar with staff, who knew them well.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These guidelines helped to 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. Staff had been trained to meet each person’s needs, taking into consideration their safety, preferences and wellbeing. Staff knew people well and were able to spend time with them, working at the person’s pace. Staff supported people to develop skills to promote their independence. For example, people were encouraged to do activities they enjoyed both in the service and in the community. This included mixing with friends and family, shopping, attending community run groups and learning life skills.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives by staff who supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Care records contained details of decisions made where a person had been assessed as not having capacity to make that decision. These had involved, where possible, the person, their family and professionals. The provider’s policies and systems supported this practice.

People received their medicines safely and on time. Medicines were stored safely. Risks to the person had been assessed and care plans described how people were supported to minimise these risks while supporting people to live life as fully as possible.

Staff knew how to communicate with each person using a range of communication methods, both verbal and non-verbal.

The registered manager understood their role and led by example, using a person-centred and empowering approach. The registered manager was involving people, their families and staff in improving the care and support provided to people. Staff said the registered manager was open and supportive.

The provider and registered manager ensured checks and audits were regularly carried out to ensure the quality of care and safety of the service. Where issues were identified, action was taken to make improvements.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 21 August 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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

19 July 2017

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 19 and 21 July 2017 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered in January 2016.

42 East Wonford Hill is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities or sensory impairment. At the time of this inspection there were five people living there. People had lived together for a number of years and knew each other well.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 42 East Wonford Hill had limited verbal communication skills and were unable to answer questions about the care and support they received. Therefore we relied on our observations of staff interaction with each person, and our conversations with the staff team to enable us to form a judgement on the quality of the service people received.

People received a service that met their needs safely. There were sufficient staff employed to make sure people were safe, and to enable them to focus on the individual needs of each person. The staff team were stable, positive and caring and there was good teamwork. Comments from staff included, “It’s like home. It’s warm, friendly. It’s like one big family. We are a close team.” Staff expressed a determination to ensure each person experienced a good quality of life. For example, a member of staff talked about their colleagues saying, “They all have people’s best interests at heart and ask ‘What can we do for them? How can we make things better for them?’”

Staff had been carefully recruited to ensure they were entirely suitable for the job. Appropriate checks had been completed to ensure they were safe to work with vulnerable people. Staff were vigilant and knew how to recognise and report any possible signs of abuse. Staff told us they would not hesitate to speak out if they had any concerns. All new staff had received training at the start of their employment to ensure they had the basic skills to meet people’s needs safely. The provider had identified a range of essential training topics which all staff were expected to complete, and they received regular updates to ensure their skills and knowledge were continuously updated. Staff were also supported to gain relevant higher qualifications in care. Comments included “I have done so many training courses since my induction I could not name them all!” and, “We are all constantly learning.”

There were safe systems in place to ensure medicines were stored and administered safely. Staff had received training on safe administration procedures. Detailed information had been drawn up to ensure staff had full information on the medicines prescribed for each person and how they should be administered. Audits were carried out regularly to ensure medicines had been administered and recorded safely.

People lived in a home that was well maintained and safe. Each person had their own spacious bedroom with en-suite facilities. Bedrooms were personalised and had been decorated and furnished to reflect the personality and tastes of the person. All areas of the home were clean, bright and comfortable. Equipment had been serviced, checked and maintained. There were procedures in place to ensure people were safe in the case of an emergency such as fire.

People received care and support in line with their individual care plans. Risk assessments identified individual risks to people’s health and safety and there was information in each person’s support plan showing how they should be supported to manage these risks. The management team and staff had sought advice and input from health and social care professionals when needed. Input from professionals had been welcomed, and professionals we spoke with were positive about the care and support people received. Comments included, “The new manager is positive and brings lots of external experience which is healthy. She has been receptive to the work I am doing.” There were effective systems in place to make sure people attended health appointments when needed.

Staff promoted individual choice, and understood the importance of seeking best interests decisions for any important matters relating to people’s care and support needs. Staff had an awareness of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and understood how to ensure people were able to make decisions for themselves as far as possible. Where people’s liberty had been restricted to keep them safe, applications had been made to the local authority as required.

People led active lives and were supported by staff to participate in a range of activities of their choice in the community and in the home. People enjoyed outings to local places of interest, and to the theatre, cinema and the circus. They went on shopping trips and visited friends and family. Staff supported people to learn new skills and gain independence. Staff supporting people to participate in choosing their own meals, shopping, making drinks, and washing up dishes. There was an atmosphere of friendship and close co-operation and support between people and staff. Staff were positive and caring in their manner.

The registered manager and provider ensured the quality and safe running of the service by demonstrating good leadership and management. The registered manager and deputy manager worked together along with the provider as a senior management team. Staff told us they were well supported by the senior management team. Comments included “(Registered manager’s name) is lovely. Really lovely. The home is well managed,” and, “(Deputy manager’s name) is lovely. She is working with us.” Staff told us the registered manager and deputy manager had built up an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding between the whole staff team and this had resulted in a warm and happy atmosphere throughout the home. The provider and registered manager had monitoring and quality assurance systems in place to enable them to constantly review and improve the service. They sought feedback from people using the service, staff and their families, and this information was used to improve the quality and safety of the support provided.