We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Bungalow on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Bungalow, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
• There was a robust visitor management procedure in place to ensure people living at the service were kept safe.
• The home was clean and fresh, and schedules were in place to ensure hygiene and cleanliness levels were maintained by staff. Deep cleaning of bedrooms was undertaken between people’s respite visits.
• People continued to be supported to safely access local facilities such as parks and cinema, in line with COVID-19 guidance.
The Bungalow is a service which provides respite care for younger adults living with a learning disability or autism. The service can support up to four people at one time. People have the use of their own rooms with en-suite shower facilities and share communal areas such as a kitchen, lounge and garden. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service. 21 people accessed and used the service at different times throughout the year.
The service had 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.
The service was in a rural location far away from local amenities with limited access to public transport. The service was clearly advertised as a care facility with identifying signs and industrial waste bins. However, this did not have a negative impact on people using the service as people had access to several vehicles which they could use to access the community.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives were positive about the support they received at the service. One relative told us, ‘‘[Person] is very happy at the bungalow. It has become part of [person’s] life and they really look forward to going.’’
People were supported by a kind and compassionate staff team who had got to know them as individuals with their own likes and preferences. Staff promoted people’s independence and decision making whilst they were using the service. Care was personalised according to people's support needs and preferences. Staff supported people to take part in a wide range of activities both in and out of the service, depending on people’s interests.
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 were kept safe at the service and staff members had a good understanding of safeguarding people from abuse. There were enough suitably trained staff to support people safely and staff had been recruited safely. Staff supported people safely in all areas of their care including medicines, health and safety and infection control.
People were supported to eat a healthy and balanced diet, based around their preferences and were supported to live healthy lives in all areas of their care including oral health. The premises had been adapted to support people to be independent in daily living tasks. A complaints procedure was in place and people knew how to make a complaint if they needed to.
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 manager and deputy manager completed audits to monitor the quality of the service. The manager put improvements in place if these audits proved not to be effective. People, relatives and staff were supported to feedback about the service and the service linked and worked well with other organisations. The manager and deputy manager promoted a positive culture and were passionate about continuing to improve the experience for people using the service.
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 this service was good (published 02 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
At the last inspection in July 2015, the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The service has a registered manager. 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.
There were effective safeguarding systems in place. Staff understood their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding people and were confident in reporting any concerns. They had received effective safeguarding training.
Personalised risk assessments were in place that gave guidance to staff on how individual risks to people could be minimised. Medicines were stored appropriately, managed safely and audits completed.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people's needs. Safe recruitment processes were in place and had been followed to ensure that staff were suitable for the role they had been appointed to prior to commencing work.
Staff were well trained and completed an effective induction programme when they commenced work at the service. Staff were supported in their roles and received regular supervision and appraisals.
Positive relationships existed between people and staff. Staff treated people with kindness and were considerate and friendly. People's privacy and dignity was promoted throughout, their care and consent was gained before any care was provided.
People's needs had been assessed and care plans took account of their individual needs, preferences and choices. Care plans and risk assessments had been regularly reviewed to ensure that they were reflective of people's current needs.
People were encouraged and supported to participate in a range of activities and received relevant information regarding the services available to them.
The service was led by a registered manager who was visible and approachable.
There was an open culture. People and their relatives were asked for their feedback on the service and comments were encouraged. Quality monitoring systems and processes were used effectively to drive improvements in the service and identify where action needed to be taken.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
This inspection took place on 15 July 2015 and it was announced.
The service provides care and support for up to four people with a learning disability for short periods of care (respite service). At the time of our inspection there was one person staying at the home, with another 20 people using the service when required.
The home has a registered manager. 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. At the time of our inspection the registered manager was on maternity leave. The provider had made suitable arrangements during the manager’s absence and had notified the CQC accordingly.
People were supported by staff who knew them well and positive relationships had been formed. People had detailed care plans which reflected their preferences and included personalised risk assessments.
People were supported to take part in a wide range of activities which reflected their hobbies and interests.
Where possible, people and their relatives were involved in decision making. People were supported to make choices in relation to their food and drink and a balanced, nutritious menu was offered.
Staff were recruited appropriately, trained and felt supported to complete their roles. They understood their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding people and knew how to respond to concerns. Staff were kind, helpful and encouraged people to be independent.
There was a clear management structure of senior staff. Staff and relatives knew who to raise concerns with and there was an open culture.
There were quality monitoring systems in place and the provider encouraged feedback on the service provided. Comments and concerns were acted upon and discussed at team meetings, but were not recorded.