Jenner House

Updated 16 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection was conducted on 21 January 2019.

Inspection team: This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type: Jenner House is a domiciliary care service. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. Not everyone supported by Jenner House receives a regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. People using the service lived in 40 self-contained flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection: The inspection was unannounced.

What we did: Our plan took into account information the provider sent us. We also considered information about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we looked at issues raised in complaints and how the service responded to them. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team and other professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with seven people using the service to ask about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, senior carer and two care staff members. We looked at three people's care records and a selection of medicines administration records (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, recruitment and training records for three staff members and records of checks carried out on the premises and equipment.

The report includes evidence and information gathered by both inspectors and the Expert by Experience.

Updated 16 February 2019

About the service: Jenner House is a domiciliary care service that was providing personal care to 26 older adults at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

•People were receiving a reliable and person-centred care service from a caring staff team which was well led.

•The service met the characteristics of a good service in all the five key questions.

•People's records were well organised and checked to make sure they included up to date and accurate information about people's needs. Information from audits, incidents and quality checks was used to drive continuous improvements to the service people received.

•People were assisted to have maximum choice and control of their lives.

•The provider supported staff in providing effective care for people through person-centred care planning, training and supervision. They ensured the provision of best practice guidance and support met people's individual needs. There was a strong emphasis on driving improvement.

•There were also good care practices within the service and people were treated with compassion and dignity by care staff.

•We observed a homely and friendly atmosphere throughout the inspection.

•People were supported safely. They were protected against abuse, neglect and discrimination. Staff ensured people's safety and acted when necessary to prevent any harm.

•Staff spoke passionately about their roles and wanting to provide quality care.

•There was good evidence that equality and diversity had been considered, in particular around those with protected characteristics such as race, religions, age or sexuality.

•Technology had been introduced to monitor staff visits and to monitor people’s safety as well as enabling people to summon for help in emergencies.

•People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. They said care workers were mostly on time and stayed for the duration of their calls.

•Staff knew people well and had gone over and above to enhance people’s experiences of the service. They had developed good relationships with people. People clearly enjoyed the presence and attention from the staff.

For more information please see the Detailed Findings below.

Rating at last inspection: This was the first inspection for this service since it was re-registered in November 2017.

Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.