Park House is a ‘care home’ and rehabilitation service. 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.Park House provides a specialist service for people who require rehabilitation because of an acquired brain injury or a neurological condition. The service provides bespoke rehabilitation programmes for up to 12 people on a long or short term (six week) residential basis, or as an agreed day care package. An interdisciplinary team, based on site, provides extensive support to the service including psychology, physiotherapy, speech and language, and occupational therapy. The service aims to maximise independence and recovery, equipping people with the skills to return home or to a supported environment, achieving rehabilitation goals that promote re-enablement and enhance their quality of life.
A range of accommodation is provided to suit people in all stages of their recovery, from fully supported ensuite bedrooms to bedsits with cooking facilities and independent living flats.
During this inspection, there were 10 people living at the service and one person was receiving day care.
At our last inspection we rated the service good overall, but found that they needed to improve the frequency at which people’s risk assessments were reviewed and updated. At this inspection we found this improvement had been made and further evidence continued to support the overall rating of good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
Why the service is still rated good:
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse and knew how to keep people safe. Processes were also in place to ensure risks to people were managed safely and these were reviewed regularly.
There were enough staff, with the right training and support, to meet people’s needs and help them to stay safe. Staff provided care and support in a kind and compassionate way. The provider carried out checks on new staff to make sure they were suitable and safe to work at the service, and improvements were being made to strengthen these checks.
Systems were in place to ensure people received their medicines in a safe way and people were protected by the prevention and control of infection.
The service responded in an open and transparent way when things went wrong, so that lessons could be learnt and improvements made.
People received care and support that promoted a good quality of life and was delivered in line with current legislation and standards.
People were supported to eat and drink enough. People could select from a choice of food that was freshly prepared by the chef, or make their own meals as part of their programme towards greater independence.
Staff worked with other external teams and services to ensure people received effective care, support and treatment. People had access to healthcare services, and received appropriate support with their healthcare needs. An interdisciplinary team were based on site, providing on-going rehabilitative support.
The building provided people with sufficient accessible individual and communal space, including a garden.
The service acted in line with legislation and guidance regarding seeking people’s consent. People were enabled 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 supported this practice.
People’s privacy, dignity, and independence was respected and promoted. They received personalised care and were given opportunities to participate in activities, both in and out of the service.
Systems were in place for people to raise any concerns or complaints they might have about the service. Feedback was responded to in a positive way, to improve the quality of service provided.
Arrangements could be made to ensure people at the end of their life had a comfortable, dignified and pain free death, if the need arose.
There was strong leadership at the service which promoted a positive culture that was person centred and open. Since the last inspection a new manager had come into post. Everyone spoke very highly of them and the deputy service manager.
Arrangements were in place to involve people in developing the service and seek their feedback, and systems were in place to monitor the quality of service provision and to drive continuous improvement. Opportunities for the service to learn and improve were welcomed and acted upon, and the service worked in partnership with other agencies for the benefit of the people living there.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.