Arden House

Updated 18 May 2019

The inspection:

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

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Service and service type:

Arden House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The registered provider managed the service. This means they have equal, legal responsibility for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. For this reason we have referred to them as ‘the provider’ throughout the report.

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. The registered provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks for some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications give information about important events the service is legally obliged to send us within required timescales. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we looked at the care records of three people who use the service and everyone’s medication records.

We looked at records about the management of the service. These included checks and audits, meeting minutes and health and safety documents. We reviewed policies and procedures including safeguarding, whistleblowing, complaints, mental capacity and medicines. We looked at information about recruitment, training, induction and supervision in staff files. We considered all this information to help us to make a judgement about the service.

During the inspection we spoke with five people who lived at the service. Some people were unable to share many of their experiences of living at Arden House because it was difficult for them to communicate these thoughts. We used observation to help us understand people’s experience.

We spoke with four members of staff and the provider during our inspection. After the inspection, we spoke with the relatives or friends of three people who lived at the service. After the inspection, we contacted seven people who represented organisations who worked with the service.

Updated 18 May 2019

About the service:

Arden House is a residential care home. It provides accommodation and personal care for up to eight people who have learning disabilities and additional needs. Six people were living at Arden House at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

• We received exclusively very positive feedback from people, relatives and professionals about the service provided at Arden House.

• Staff were proud of the homely environment and their approach to care. The service was bright and comfortable, and staff were kind and compassionate.

• There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, and several of the staff team had worked at Arden House for many years. Safe recruitment procedures were in place.

• Staff felt well supported and received training, induction and supervision to help them carry out their role.

• People were protected from the risk of harm as far as possible. Policies, procedures and checks were in place to protect people and staff. Information was available for staff to enable them to manage risks safely. We have made a recommendation about window safety risk assessments.

• People's medicines were administered as prescribed and managed safely by competent staff.

• People were encouraged to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced diet. People enjoyed the meals provided, and staff sought the advice of specialist professionals when necessary.

• People were supported to participate in a wide range of activities and were active members of the local community.

• People had care plans which were personalised and identified what was important to them, including their likes and preferences. Care plans provided relevant guidance for staff and were reviewed and updated regularly.

• Care records contained detailed and highly personalised end of life plans.

• Checks and audits were carried out regularly at the service. Audits included action plans which enabled the provider to monitor and improve care for people

• The provider worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, and any restrictions on people’s liberty were appropriately and safely managed.

Rating at last inspection:

This provider had not previously been inspected by CQC.

Although there had been a change to the service provider name, Arden House is a well-established care home.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection following a change of service provider.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will visit the service in line with our inspection schedule, or sooner if required.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk