The Spinney

Updated 19 May 2022

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Extra Care Housing:

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service. The service is also registered to provide personal care to people living in their own home in the community

Registered Manager

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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a telephone call from an inspector. This meant that we had to arrange for a ‘best interests’ decision about this.

Inspection activity started on 28 April 2022 and ended on 9 May 2022. We visited the office location on 4 May 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from one health professional and a member of the local authority safeguarding team. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, senior care staff and care staff. The deputy manager was responsible for the day to day running of the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed, including training records, incident records, compliments, quality assurance processes and various policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarity about incident reporting and actions taken.

Updated 19 May 2022

About the service

The Spinney is a domiciliary care agency and extra care scheme registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. The service supports older people some of whom were living with dementia, people with a sensory impairment, people with a physical disability, and people with mental health support needs. At the time of the inspection, 46 people were using the service of which 40 people received personal care.

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

Staff knew how to safeguard and how to support people to keep them safe. People received their medicines as prescribed and staff ensured they followed infection prevention guidance and good practise. Enough skilled and suitable staff had been safely recruited. The service and the staff team took on board learning when things went wrong.

People were supported as much as practicable by a consistent staff team who they felt comfortable with. Staff knew people's assessed and current needs well and care plans were reviewed as soon as changes occurred. Staff had received the required training and ongoing support to help them maintain and improve their skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities. People said staff had the skills necessary to care for them well.

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.

People said staff were caring and knew their needs and preferences well. Staff gave people privacy, treated them with dignity and respect, and helped promote people's independence.

People said they were involved when reviewing their care and felt staff were responsive to their changing needs.

Monitoring and oversight of the service was effective in identifying and driving improvements. The registered manager led by example and had fostered an open and honest staff team culture. People came first and foremost, and they had a say in how the service was provided. The provider worked well with other organisations, to provide people with 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

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 01 December 2018. This service under its current provider was registered with us on 01 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected.

This was inspection was based on the service being unrated under its current provider's registration.

Follow up

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