The Rowans

Updated 13 September 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We carried out a comprehensive inspection on 16th August 2018 which was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The team was made up of two adult social care inspectors. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed notifications that had been sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We spoke to one person who lived at the service during the inspection, as well as four staff members including the registered manager. We also carried out general observations throughout the day and referred to a number of records. These included two care plans, records around medicine management, staff recruitment files, policies around the running of the service, and how the organisation audits the quality of the service.

We spoke to two relatives of people who use the service following the inspection.

Updated 13 September 2018

The Rowans is a residential care home for up to five adults with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder with or without an associated learning disability or other needs. At the time of our inspection there were only three people living at the service who had a range of needs such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities and Downs Syndrome.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained good.

Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff knew how to report abuse. People’s finances were protected by daily checks.

Risk assessments were in place and managed appropriately. The service was going through a transition period due to there being a new provider, but all the information we required was available to us.

Lessons were learned when things had gone wrong which had highlighted where improvements could be made. These were implemented to reduce any future risk or reoccurrence.

Medicines were stored and administered correctly. As and when medicine (PRN) protocols were in place and stock count checks were correct.

The environment was clean and tidy. There was work to be done to make the garden accessible and stimulating, but the registered manager was aware of this and plans were in place to facilitate this.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff were aware of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and people’s rights were protected.

Staff were knowledgeable around people’s needs and treated them with kindness and respect. People who use the service told us they were happy. We saw that people’s independence and privacy was respected and promoted.

A wide range of meaningful activities were available for people who used the service. Staff helped people achieve goals that were important and relevant to them.

There was an open and positive culture within the home amongst staff and people. Staff said that the manager was approachable and well respected, and her nominated her for an award to recognise this.

The service was proactive in assisting people to access health care and managing their anxieties around this.