Archived: Royal Mencap Society - Newstead Bungalow

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ Visitors to the service had to complete lateral flow device test (LFD) to check whether the person is infectious with COVID-19. LFD can be used for visitor testing, including visiting professionals who are not part of a regular testing programme. Additionally, visitors were screened to check they had not displayed signs of the infection to ensure their visit could take place safely and in line with current guidance.

¿ A regular testing for COVID-19 was in place for staff and people who lived in the service.

¿ Where people or staff had received a positive COVID-19 test, the provider followed national guidance relating to self-isolation.

¿ People were supported to keep in touch with others who were important to them in a variety of ways, including video and telephone calls.

¿ Infection control polices reflected the current national guidance and had been reviewed regularly. Cleaning schedules had been increased to ensure touch surfaces were cleaned regularly and additional cleaning to maintain good hygiene standards

¿ Staff had received training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and we saw this was accessible throughout the home and staff used it in accordance with the most up to date guidance.

¿ The service had a detailed infection control policy and a business continuity plan in place. Audits took place to monitor infection prevention and control across the service.

Newstead Bungalow 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.

This is the first inspection since the provider registered this location on 13 November 2017. Newstead Bungalow is registered to accommodate six people with a learning disability and associated conditions in one adapted building and provides personal care. There were six people using the service at the time of our inspection. Each person had their own bedroom with a communal lounge, dining room and kitchen that they could access. A garden area was also available for people to access.

Newstead Bungalow met 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.

The service had 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's received support from sufficient numbers of trained staff who were available to meet their individual needs. People were supported by staff who understood their responsibilities in protecting them from the risk of harm. People were supported to

take reasonable risks, to enable them to spend time doing things they enjoyed.

People were supported to take their prescribed medicine in a safe way. The staff's suitability to work with people was established before they commenced employment. Staff supported people to keep their home clean and systems were in place

to guide staff on the prevention and control of infection.

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. People and their representatives were involved in their care to enable them to make decisions about how they wanted to receive support in their preferred way.

People received a balanced diet that met their preferences and were supported to access healthcare services. People received coordinated support to ensure their preferences and needs were met.

Staff understood people’s needs and preferences and treated them with consideration and respect. People were supported to maintain their dignity and their privacy. People were supported to maintain relationships with those who were important to them.

People were supported to maintain their interests and be part of their local community. Processes were in place for people and their representatives to raise any concerns about the service provided.

People and their representatives were consulted and involved in the ongoing development of the service. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and were supported by the management team. The provider and registered manager understood their legal responsibilities with us. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service to enable the registered manager and provider to drive improvement.