Background to this inspection
Updated
11 July 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
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 team consisted of 1 inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Hazel 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. Hazel 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During the inspection visit, we spoke with 5 people living at the service. We spent time in the communal areas observing the care and support people received. In addition, we spoke with the registered manager, compliance manager and 3 support workers.
We reviewed 3 people’s care records which included care plans, risk assessments and medicines records. We reviewed 2 staff recruitment records and other documents related to the running of the service which included staff rotas, audits, surveys, meetings and quality assurance records.
After the site visit, we spoke with 7 relatives and sought feedback from health and social care professionals.
Updated
11 July 2023
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
Hazel House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 8 people with a learning disability and mental health conditions. At the time of the inspection there were 8 people living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
People received safe care and they were supported by staff who knew how to protect them from harm. Staff supported people to take their prescribed medicines and to access healthcare services.
Staff were aware of people's individual risks and plans were in place to minimise these while maintaining people’s independence.
Recruitment of staff was safe and robust. We saw that pre-employment checks had been completed before staff could commence work.
People could choose how they wanted to spend their time, whether they wanted to be with other people or in their own space and what and when they ate.
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.
Right Care
We found people were at risk of social isolation because the provider did not always ensure people had opportunities for social engagement. We have made a recommendation about this.
There was a relaxed atmosphere in the home where staff were respectful and supportive in their interactions with people.
Where people required support with personal care this was provided in a discreet way and promoted people’s dignity and privacy.
People were given choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well.
Right Culture
Staff demonstrated a positive person-centred attitude to their work and promoted people’s rights and independence.
Staff were proactive in ensuring people had equal access to services.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and we saw they had formed good relationships with people they supported.
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 30 October 2018).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
This inspection was a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hazel House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.