Taigh Aisling

Updated 12 November 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

This inspection took place on 21 October 2020 and was announced. The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

Updated 12 November 2020

About the service

Taigh Aisling is a residential care home providing personal care and support for a maximum of six people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were four people living at the service.

The care home has two floors and six bedrooms. Each person had their own bedroom and there are five bedrooms with en-suite facilities. People also had access to a shared dining room, a communal bathroom, lounge, kitchen and large garden with equipment people could use including a trampoline.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was registered for the support of up to six people. This was in line with current best practice guidance. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to be safe as staff had been recruited safely and trained to understand each person's communication methods. Risks were identified and managed well. One relative said, “Getting [family member’s] medicines right was key to their safe care. It is a gradual process though.” People were supported by enough staff with the right skills to meet their needs. Staff applied their knowledge of safeguarding well and were confident to report concerns. People were supported with their medicines including reducing medicines where safe to do so. Lessons were learned when things did not go quite so well and actions taken were effective.

People were able to access food and drink when they wanted. Staff understood people’s dietary needs including those associated with religious beliefs and values. People had choice and staff supported them to access a range of health and social care professionals. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the

best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People, their relatives and advocates were fully involved in all decisions about people’s care and support. Staff treated people kindly, with compassion and respect. Staff supported people with their communication needs to enable people to have a voice and make choices. Staff listened to what people told them.

Concerns were acted on before they became a complaint. Staff understood when a person was unhappy about something and resolved this to the person's satisfaction. Policies, information and procedures were in place should any person require end of life care.

The registered manager had in their short time in post already implemented many changes. These included the environment and care practices, meaning people experienced more personalised support and a homelier atmosphere. This was achieved with lots of pictures, photographs, homely items, furnishings and adaptations which helped keep people and the premises safe. Staff were supported in their role. The provider worked well with others to help ensure joined up care.

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

Rating at last inspection

This is the first inspection of the service since it was registered in November 2018.

Why we inspected

This was a routine planned inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.