Derwent House

Updated 27 July 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses care services.

Service and service type

Derwent House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Derwent House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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 unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information we held about the service. We asked the local authority and Healthwatch for feedback about the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider, the registered manager, senior care workers and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records in detail plus we also looked at specific aspects of other people’s care records where we had identified risk and reviewed medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality audits, incidents and building safety records. We had a video call with the registered manager and deputy manager after our site visit in order to seek clarification and to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and policies and procedures.

Updated 27 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Derwent House is a residential care home providing personal care for people who have a learning disability.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 13 people; 12 people were being supported at the time of our inspection. People had their own bedrooms, some with en suites. There was a communal kitchen, bathroom/shower facilities and lounge/dining rooms spaces.

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

Right Support

The service gave people care and support in an environment that needed improvements to the décor and hygiene levels in some areas. However, people had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms. The staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence and they had control over their own lives. Although improvements were needed in one specific area about using public transport. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful life. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area. People were able to go on holiday and engage in meaningful activities. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

Right Care

Some improvements were needed to specific training, however overall, the service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

Right culture

Some improvements were needed to how people were referred to in their care plans to ensure language was appropriate. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. People felt able to raise concerns and felt the management team were approachable. Staff also felt supported in their role and felt able to raise concerns if necessary.

The provider acknowledged at the beginning of the inspection that they were aware the home needed updating and significant investment.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 13 May 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Requires Improvement, published on 21 December 2019.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to the condition of the property, quality assurance systems and people’s consent.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.