We carried out a review of the data available to us about Emerson 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 Emerson House, you can give feedback on this service.
Emerson House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 8 people. At the time of the inspection there were eight people living at the home. Emerson House provide care and support to adults with learning disabilities.
The care home accommodates six people in a purpose-built adapted building. It also accommodates two people in individual purpose-built ground floor studio flats.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We saw staff support people in safe and highly competent ways. Feedback from relatives was very positive. One relative said of the staff team, “They are doing their best and they don’t stop trying.”
People were supported to access healthcare services and their medicines were managed well. People's care records were detailed and outlined the support they needed. Care records were regularly reviewed to make sure they reflected changes to people's circumstances. Detailed risk assessments were in place to identify and help minimise the chances of people experiencing harm.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported practice.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff helped people using the service to inclusive and empowered lives.
This was evidenced in many ways. The registered manager, senior managers and support staff all shared positive person-centred values in relation to how they supported people. People were able to make clear choices in their life for example what they did and how they spent their day. People were able to keep their rooms and accommodation in ways that reflected them and their personalities. People had unrestricted access to all parts of the home. People also looked very relaxed with all the staff and this helped convey how empowered and relaxed they were in the home.
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was Good (published 12 February 2018).
Why we inspected:
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about people’s care, a range of health and safety matters, training, the quality of food, as well as an allegedly lack of stimulation for people who lived at the home . A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks as part of our inspection.
Although no breaches were found we have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. This relates to the quality of food, and the storage of care records. We have made recommendations in both these areas.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Emerson House.
The service is registered to provide residential care for up to eight people with learning disability or mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection five people were living at the home.
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.
There were systems in place that helped ensure medicines were managed safely for people. Risk assessments and care plans helped promote the safety of people when they were out in the community and within the home.
People were supported to stay safe at the home and in the community. The staff had been on training about abuse and had the knowledge and insight to know how to keep people safe. This helped people to be protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
People were well supported to have choice and control of their lives. The staff team supported them in the most positive way they could. There were policies and systems to support the staff to do this effectively. People were well supported with their health needs and their wellbeing was closely observed by staff.
The principles of the Mental Capacity Act were implemented in the home. There were policies and systems in the home that supported the staff and people who lived there.
People were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain good health. Menus were planned based on each person’s choices and preferences.
People were encouraged and supported by the staff to maintain their independence. The staff team respected people’s privacy and dignity.
People were supported in ways that were flexible to their individual needs and preferences. Activities were individualised to reflect the interests wishes and choices of each person. Care plans were personalised and guided staff to provide care and support in the way people preferred.
There were quality monitoring systems and checks in place to help develop improvements and ensure a safe and good standard of care and service for people. People’s relatives and professionals involved in people’s care gave positive feedback about the service.
The home was being well run by the registered manager .Staff and professionals spoke positively of the registered manager who was inclusive and supportive in the way they managed the home. The registered manager also conveyed to us that they were very positive in their approach towards the care being provided for people.
There was a respectful culture between the registered manager, staff and those who lived at the home. People felt comfortable about engaging with the registered manager and the team. The atmosphere in the home was relaxed, informal and homely. The registered manager and staff worked hard to provide a service that was safe, caring, effective and responsive to people’s needs.