Archived: Blueberry House

Updated 24 February 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

The inspection visit took place on 30 January 2018 and was conducted by one inspector. It was a comprehensive, announced inspection. We gave the provider 24 hours notice of the first day of our inspection visit because it is a small service and people are often out during the day.

As part of our inspection we reviewed information received about the service, for example the statutory notifications the provider had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send to us by law. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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. We found the PIR was very detailed and reflected the service.

During the inspection visit we spoke with two people who lived at Blueberry House. We also observed the interactions between people and staff and how people were supported in the communal areas. We reviewed one person's care plan and daily records in detail to see how their care and treatment was planned and delivered. We also looked at specific areas in another person's care plan. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, two members of care staff and a director from the provider company. We looked at other records related to people’s care and how the service operated, including medicine records, the provider’s quality assurance audits and recruitment records.

Updated 24 February 2018

We inspected this service on 30 January 2018. We gave the provider 24 hours notice of our inspection visit as this is a small service and people are often out during the day.

Blueberry House 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.

The service is delivered from a semi-detached house. The house is a three storey building and provides accommodation and personal care for up to three people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Two people lived at the home on the day of our inspection visit. One of the people had moved into the home four days before our inspection.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. 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.

At the last inspection in September 2016 the service was rated as requires improvement. We found a breach of the regulations because improvements were needed in the governance of the service. We also found improvements were needed in ensuring people received consistently safe care. Following the last inspection visit, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of safe and well-led to at least good.

This inspection visit was a comprehensive inspection and during this inspection we checked to make sure improvements had been made. We found improvements had been made and the rating in all key areas is now ‘Good’.

Since our previous inspection in September 2016 we have reviewed and refined our assessment framework, which was published in October 2017. Under the new framework certain key areas have moved, such as support for people when behaviour challenges, which has moved from Effective to Safe. Therefore, for this inspection, we have inspected all key questions under the new framework, and also reviewed the previous key questions to make sure all areas were inspected to validate the ratings.

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. 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.

People felt safe and cared for at Blueberry House. There were two staff on duty at all times so people received support when they needed it and were able to participate in activities as they wished to. Staff knew what to do if they had any concerns about people’s health or wellbeing and understood their responsibilities to challenge poor practice. Staff were knowledgeable about risks to people’s health and wellbeing and the support they needed to manage those risks.

The environment was clean and well-maintained and people had the equipment they needed to keep them safe.

The provider had ensured managers and staff had the skill, experience and support to enable them to meet people's needs effectively. People were supported to attend routine and emergency healthcare appointments and received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff worked with people to give them maximum choice and control over their lives. Where the level of supervision of people amounted to a deprivation of liberty, the appropriate applications had been submitted to the authorising authority.

Staff were kind and caring and provided an environment where people were enabled to live their lives, pursue their interests and maintain their independence. People were supported to take part in social activities which were meaningful to them and to maintain and build relationships with family and friends outside the home.

There was an open culture at the home where staff felt well supported and able to raise any concerns. Staff worked in a co-ordinated way with other organisations and healthcare professionals to ensure people received appropriate support and opportunities to achieve their potential.

The provider had systems to monitor and improve the quality of service so people received safe, effective, responsive care.