Kite House

• People being restricted in terms of their movement around the service.

• The care and support for two people, including what activities they were supported to do.

Similar concerns had also been raised by the same complainant about two other services owned by the same provider. The concerns about the other services were not addressed during this inspection, but have been considered separately in line with our inspection methodology.

Prior to the inspection, we had raised a safeguarding alert with the local authority about the concerns we had received. The local authority undertook their own investigations into each of the allegations during the same time period as the inspection. Since the inspection, we have received outcome information from the local authority, who have closed all the safeguarding concerns. The outcomes described how the service had worked with them and, where necessary, taken action to address the concerns.

We did not find evidence of unnecessary restrictions being placed upon people. We also did not find any evidence to support the allegation that people were not being supported to have fulfilled lives doing activities of their choice both within the service and in the local community.

At the last inspection in April 2018, we rated the service Good in all five domains and therefore the service was rated as Good overall.

At this inspection, we looked at the two key questions, “Is the service effective?” and “Is the service well-led?” and found that both domains continued to be rated as Good.

No risks, concerns or significant improvement were identified in the remaining Key Questions through our ongoing monitoring or during our inspection activity so we did not inspect them. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for these Key Questions were included in calculating the overall rating in this inspection

Kite House is a residential care home for people who live with a diagnosis of learning disability and/or autism. Some people living at Kite House also have physical disabilities. The service is registered to provide accommodation with personal care (without nursing) for up to six people. 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.

At the service, there is a main building with six bedrooms and communal areas. There is another care home on the same site, called Burridge Farm which is owned by the same provider. Burridge Farm is managed by the same registered manager and most staff work in both care homes. A building located beside Burridge Farm provides office space for the registered manager, senior staff and administrative staff who work across both the services.

At the time of the inspection, there were five people living at the service.

The service had been designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support (RRS) 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 the inspection we observed that staff worked with people promoting their choice and independence. This included being involved in activities within the service and in the local community.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. People were being supported within the requirements of the MCA.

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 and their families were very positive about the care and support provided at Kite House. One person’s comments included, “Really like living here, staff are great.” A relative said they were, “Very happy” with the care they family member received.

People’s risks, needs and preferences were assessed when they first came to Kite House. Risk assessments and care plans were developed with the person, and where appropriate, their families. When there was a change in a person’s presentation, their risk assessments and care plans were reviewed to ensure they still met the person’s requirements. Staff were knowledgeable about each person, their history and family background. Staff worked to ensure that people’s rights in relation to the Equality Act (2010) were upheld.

People were provided opportunities to do activities of their choice. This included activities both in the service and the local community. People said they enjoyed the activities they did which included going to the gym and working in a local café. People were also supported to develop life skills including cooking and household chores.

People were involved in choosing and preparing meals they said they enjoyed. People’s dietary needs were understood by staff who encouraged people to eat healthily.

People were supported to maintain their health by attending appointments with health professionals such as GP and dentist. Where a person had to spend time in hospital, staff remained with them to ensure their needs were met.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

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.

At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service, all of whom had moved into the service since it was opened in 2017. The house was made up of a single main building. Kite House had been built within the extensive grounds surrounding another registered care home, Burridge Farm, owned by the same provider.

The service had a registered manager, who also managed the two other homes owned by the provider. 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. The registered manager was supported by a team of senior staff. Some staff worked at both Kite House and Burridge Farm.

The home had been developed, designed and built 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.

There was a relaxed and happy atmosphere in the home. People were observed laughing and chatting with staff who knew them well. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible. People undertook activities of their choice which promoted their independence. Staff communicated with people effectively using both verbal and non-verbal methods. Staff had spent time getting to know about each person as an individual. They used this to support each person to do activities they enjoyed.

Families and professionals who responded to our request for feedback, were positive about the care and support provided in the home. Comments included “The staff are very helpful and professional.” Families commented that staff were good at helping their relative stay in touch with them.

People were kept safe at Kite House. Risk and needs assessments had been carried out and informed staff about how to minimise risks for each person while supporting them to be as independent as possible. Staff worked with a wide range of health professionals to ensure people maintained good health. Health professionals said that staff followed their advice and contacted them appropriately.

Care records contained risk assessments and care plans which described people’s risks, needs and preferences as well as how these should be met. People were involved in planning their care.

People were encouraged to eat a healthy diet of their choice. Medicines were stored and administered in a safe way. Staff recorded accurately when medicines were given.

There was a registered manager in post and providers who visited the home frequently supporting them. 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 was a quality assurance and governance framework which helped to ensure the home was safe, well maintained and clean and free of infection.

The home had a complaints policy and process. No complaints had been received since the home had opened in 2017.

There were safe recruitment procedures. Staff had the knowledge, skills and experience to support people with their care. Staff undertook training when they first joined the home and refreshed their knowledge from time to time. Staff were also supported to do nationally recognised qualifications. Staff had regular one to one supervisions with a senior worker. This gave them an opportunity to reflect on what was going well, what was not going so well and what support they needed to improve their work.

Further information is in the detailed findings below