High Ridges

Updated 26 July 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. 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

One inspector visited the service on both days of the inspection.

Service and service type

High Ridges is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 72 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service, including notifications for events the provider is required to tell us about. We sought feedback from the local authority who worked 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 inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service. We spoke with nine members of staff including the provider, registered manager, three support workers, the marketing officer, the head of domestics, head of maintenance and a physiotherapist.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and four medicine 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, including quality assurance checks and health and safety records were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two healthcare professionals who regularly visit the service and four relatives of people living at the service.

Updated 26 July 2019

About the service

High Ridges is a residential care home providing personal care for up to six people living with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum. Some people also had physical disabilities and sensory impairments. Six people were living at the service at the time of the inspection.

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.

There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People were supported by staff who had an excellent understanding of their needs and were exceptionally skilled. Staff were dedicated to promoting people’s independence. Each interaction with people was seen as an opportunity to achieve this. People were encouraged to set ambitious goals and achieved these, which had highly positive impacts on their wellbeing and confidence. The service was unanimously praised by people, relatives and professionals. One relative said, “They do the absolute best for each individual.”

People were integrated and welcomed into their local communities and made full use of a range of community facilities. They were supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with friends and family.

People were able to take positive risks. They were involved with monitoring safety in the service and staff recruitment. People’s relatives felt the service was a safe place for their family members to live.

Staff worked with healthcare professionals to support people to live healthy lives. The dietary needs of people were well understood, this contributed to people’s physical health improving. Meal times were a social experience, where people were encouraged to try new foods.

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.

There was a warm, caring atmosphere at the service. People saw the service as a second family. People’s choices and independence were at central to how support was delivered. The contribution of each person was valued, promoting inclusivity and an understanding of equality and diversity.

The provider placed people at the centre of its aims and objectives. Staff understood these values and promoted them in their work. People and their relatives were involved in the running of the service. They were consulted about any changes planned and what activities they would like to do.

The service consistently 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.

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 29 November 2016).

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.