City Health Care Partnership CIC - Sunshine House

At our last inspection we rated the service ‘good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘good’ and 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.

Children’s safety was paramount and staff were trained in ensuring this. They had systems in place to detect, monitor and report any safeguarding concerns. Staff were safely recruited and deployed and their practice around medication and infection control management was robust and safe. The premises were maintained in a safe condition.

Staff practice was effective. They were trained and qualified to carry out their roles, received supervision and appraisal and demonstrated understanding of children’s rights and anti-discriminatory practice. Children’s health care and nutrition was well supported according to their assessed needs and wishes. The premises were designed and adapted to the needs of children.

We found staff to be caring, compassionate and attentive in their support of children. Staff communicated well with children and respected their independence, choice, privacy and dignity.

Children’s support plans were detailed and instructive. They enabled staff to provide the right support to children. Interests and activities were extremely well coordinated with the schools that children attended, as staff also worked with children when in school. Staff understood the principles of good care practice. Complaints were appropriately addressed and satisfied. End of life support was compassionate and responsive to the needs of children and their families.

The service met its registration requirements. There was a registered manager, but the clinical manager had day-to-day charge of the service, with the registered manager being accountable for all management systems and practice. Staff understood their organisation’s visions and values and there was an organisational quality assurance system operated by dedicated officers. Parents of children told us they had been asked about their views of the service and felt included in the support of their children. The service continued to provide a good service to the children that spent respite time at City Health Care Partnership CIC – Sunshine House.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This inspection took place on 27 April 2016 and was unannounced. The service was last inspected in September 2013 and was found to be compliant with the regulations inspected at that time.

At the time of the inspection four children were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Children were cared for by staff who could recognise and effectively report abuse. Staff had been trained in how to recognise the signs of abuse and this training was updated regularly. Children were cared for by staff who had been recruited safely and were provided in enough numbers to meet their needs. Staff handled children’s medicines safely and had received training in this area. The service was clean and tidy and all staff adhered to safe working practises with regard to infection control.

Children were cared for by staff who were supported to develop their knowledge and skills. The registered provider had systems in place which ensured staff received the right training which equipped them to meet the needs of the children. Children’s nutritional needs and diet were monitored by the staff and other health care professionals were contacted when needed. Parents or legal guardians were consulted about the care their children received and consent was gained. The environment had been adapted to meet the needs of the children.

Children were cared for by staff who were kind and caring and who understood their needs. Parents had been involved with the development of documentation which assisted the staff in meeting the children’s needs. Staff understood the importance of respecting the child’s dignity and privacy.

Children received care which had been discussed and developed with the input of health care professionals, parents and guardians. All activities undertaken had the aim of assisting the child’s development and education. The registered provider had a complaints procedure in place which was accessible to all those who wished to raise concerns or complaints. All complaints had been investigated and the complainant informed of the outcome.

The management style of the service was open and inclusive and the registered manager was visible and led by example. Audits were in place which ensured as far as possible children received a safe and well-led service.

Relatives we spoke with were very positive about the service. They told us, 'This place is such huge part of my life', 'I would be lost without the staff they are so kind and caring', 'They are all wonderful' and 'You can just pop in or call them anytime they are always willing to support you.'

We observed nursing staff looking after children. We saw that children were always spoken to, even when they could not communicate back verbally, that children were treated with respect and given appropriate attention at all times during our visit.

Care files reflected a plan of care that was developed from assessments of risk, social and clinical need. These were then monitored with regular entries in a log of interventions and general care.

The home was clean, tidy and generally free from clutter. Clinical areas were designed and used as to reduce the risk of infection although the home was aware of the need to refurbish certain parts such as clinical hand wash sinks and access to adequate sluicing arrangements. We were told these plans were being considered and in the meantime, the facilities were adequate to promote good hygiene.