We carried out a review of the data available to us about Springwood 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 Springwood, you can give feedback on this service.
Springwood is a care home which provides personal care for up to six people living with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of this inspection there were five people living in the home.
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. The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were very happy and content living in the home and described staff as “wonderful” and “perfect.” They received person-centred care where they were at the heart and focus of the support provided to achieve positive outcomes. One person talking about their journey since moving into the home said, “I’m in a better place [now], the best I have been for a long time.”
People were kept safe. Staff were confident in protecting people from abuse. Risks were well managed. The provider learned from previous accidents and incidents to reduce future risks. Staff were recruited in a safe way and there were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs. Arrangements were in place for the safe administration of medicines. Infection control processes were embedded into the service and staff followed government guidance in relation to infection control and prevention practices, in particular, relating to COVID-19.
People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and annual appraisals. People were supported with their nutritional needs and to access a range of health care professionals. People were supported 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.
Staff were respectful towards people and supported them in a dignified way. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and develop daily living skills. People received support from appropriate advocacy services, when needed.
Support plans were detailed and reflected people’s individual needs and choices. People’s communication needs were detailed within support plans and staff knew how to communicate with them effectively. Staff involved people and their relatives when planning support and activities which incorporated people’s interests and wishes. The provider had a complaints procedure in place that was available in suitable formats for people.
An effective quality assurance process was in place. Key stakeholders were regularly consulted about the quality of the service. Staff were involved in the ongoing development and improvement of the service through regular meetings as well as daily communication. The registered manager was open and approachable to all.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 August 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.
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.
Springwood is a residential care home for up to six adults living with a learning disability, and/or autism. At the time of inspection six people were living at the service in one adapted building.
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. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe living at the service. Staff were responsive to the risks people faced. Incidents were robustly reviewed and lessons had been learned when needed. As a result, people had become more settled. There were always enough staff on duty to support people. Medicines were safely managed.
Staff were supported to deliver safe care to people. People were involved with shopping and preparing meals. They had regular access to professionals to support their well-being. The environment had been adapted to meet people’s needs.
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 this practice.
Positive relationships were observed between people and staff. Staff demonstrated their understanding of people and were able to think outside of the box to ensure people had every opportunity to live fulfilled lives. They had access to all of the resources needed as part of their care.
People received person-centred care and were involved in all aspects of their care. Records were in place to support this. People participated in a wide variety of activities, in-line with their interests. Complaints that had been received and appropriately addressed.
The staff team worked well together to deliver a good service. Quality assurance methods helped to drive improvement. People and staff had a voice and feedback was used to make improvements.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These 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.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (Published 20 July 2018) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
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.
Springwood is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Springwood accommodates 6 people in one adapted building.
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.
During this inspection we found medicines administration was not always recorded correctly and policies in place for staff were not available on the day of our inspection. When people were administered ‘as and when required’ medicines directions were not clear and the records to support this type of administration were not adequate.
Medicines were audited regularly but issues were not always found or addressed. Staff competencies were monitored by senior staff but this also didn’t highlight issues found regarding recording.
Care plans were not always sufficiently detailed or clear in giving members of staff relevant information to provide care and support to people. Care plans were reviewed regularly and with the involvement of people who used the service and their relatives.
A programme of audits was carried out by the registered manager these were not always effective at improving the service.
People who used the service were asked for their views about the support through an ongoing exercise, however this wasn’t always recorded. Peoples relatives and other healthcare professionals were not asked for their views via questionnaires or feedback forms, however this was to commence.
The home was clean and well presented however there were no hand washing facilities in the laundry or separate clean and dirty areas to minimise the risk of cross infection.
People were supported to take risks safely and personalised risk assessments were in place to ensure people were protected against a range of risks.
Staff had received safeguarding training and were able to describe types of abuse and what they would do to report concerns and protect people.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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. The registered manager had extensive experience of working in the social care sector.
Staff recruitment was carried out safely with robust safety checks in place for new staff.
New staff received induction training and were supported by other staff members until they could work alone.
Support for people was person centred this meant their preferences and dislikes were respected at all times. People had planned goals and were supported to achieve them.
People were supported to have choice and control over their own lives from being supported by person centred care. Person centred care is when the person is central to their support and their preferences are respected.
There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs safely and in an individualised way.
Staff were trained in safeguarding, first aid, Mental Capacity Act and infection control. Additional training was in place or planned in areas specific to people’s individual needs.
Staff had a good knowledge of people’s likes, dislikes, preferences, mobility and communicative needs. People we spoke with gave us positive feedback regarding staff and how their needs were met.
People were supported to maintain their independence by staff that understood and valued the importance of this.
Notifications of significant events were submitted to us in a timely manner by the registered manager.
The registered manager displayed a sound understanding of capacity and the need for consent on a decision-specific basis. Consent was documented in people’s care files and people we spoke with confirmed staff asked for their consent on a day to day basis.
Health care professionals, including GP, dietitians or specialist consultants were Involved in people's care as and when this was needed and staff supported people with any appointments as necessary.
Staff, people who used the service, relatives and other professionals agreed that the registered manager led the service well and was approachable and accountable. We found they had a sound knowledge of the needs of people who used the service and clear expectations of staff. They had plans in place to make further improvements to service.
People and their relatives were able to complain if they wished and were knowledgeable of how to complain or raise minor concerns.
Assistive technology was in use at the home and people were supported to use this for communication.
People were supported to access information in a variety of formats to suit their needs and adaptations were made to suit individuals.
People were supported to take part in a wide range of activities at home and in the wider community as active citizens and to suit their individual preferences.
We identified two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance. You can see what action we told the registered provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.