Archived: Badgers

Updated 30 January 2019

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 commenced an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 30 November 2018. This meant that the provider and staff did not know we would be visiting.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Prior to the inspection, we checked all the information which we had received about the service including statutory notifications which the provider had sent us. Statutory notifications contain information about certain events which the provider is legally obliged to report to us. 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.

Most people at Badgers were unable to communicate with us, although one person did speak with us. Throughout the inspection we spent time in the communal areas of the home observing how staff interacted with people and supported them.

We spoke with the registered manager, administrator, one nurses, two care workers and the chef.

We reviewed records relating to the care of three people. We looked at four staff personnel files, in addition to a range of records in relation to the safety and management of the service.

Updated 30 January 2019

Badgers 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.

Badgers is registered to provide residential and nursing care for up to 10 people who have complex learning disabilities or mental health and physical health care needs. During our inspection we found that 12 people were living at the service and this is a breach of Section 33 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Therefore, the lack of oversight by the provider and registered manager means there is a breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The accommodation for people is spread over a single storey building. Most people have single

bedroom accommodation although there is a double bedroom at the service where two people share the room. People have shared access to communal rooms, garden and sensory room.

The care service had not originally been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. However, most people living at Badgers have very complex needs learning and physical disabilities and are unable to verbally communicate their wishes.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

People were kept safe and safeguarding processes were in place and followed by staff when required. Incidents of a safeguarding nature were reported to the appropriate authorities and investigated. Staff understood their responsibility in safeguarding people and told us of the action they would take if they had concerns.

We saw positive relationships between staff and people. Staff treated people with compassion and kindness during their interactions. Staff we spoke with described ways in which they worked which demonstrated a caring attitude.

We found care plans were person-centred and consistent in the level of detail and information they

contained. Person-centred care planning is a way of helping someone to plan their care and support, focusing on what is important to them. Staff knew people well and delivered personalised care to people. Risk assessments related to the delivery of care and the environment were up to date. Emergency plans were in place and health and safety checks in the environment were carried out to ensure it remained safe.

The administration and management of medicines was carried out in a safe way.

Consent to care and treatment was sought in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The best interest's decision-making process had been consistently followed for people who lacked capacity to make certain decisions themselves.

People were offered a choice of meals. We saw the quality of the food available to be of a high standard. People were offered an alternative meal if they did not like the choice on offer. Records were available to highlight if people required a specific textured meal due to swallowing difficulties.

There were enough staff employed to ensure people’s needs were met safely. Safe recruitment procedures were followed during the employment of new staff. Staff told us they felt supported and had received regular supervisions and appraisals. Newly recruited staff received an induction

and training the provider had deemed to be mandatory was completed by staff.

We saw evidence of relatives, staff and professionals that were positive about Badgers and the staff that worked there.