Archived: Highbury House

Updated 25 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Highbury House 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

This inspection was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day.

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 with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service. We observed people being supported by staff within communal areas of the home as not all people could talk to us. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, the regional manager, deputy manager, team leader and support staff.

We reviewed a range of records that included three people’s care plans and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. We looked at training records for all staff. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

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 one professional who regularly visits the service. We spoke with one relative by telephone.

Updated 25 July 2019

About the service

Highbury House is a residential care home providing personal care to adults with learning disabilities and autism. The service is made up of three separate houses next door to each other. The service accommodates up to 11 people there were eight people using the service at the time of this 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.

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

People had their needs assessed prior to living at the home. They had detailed care plans that reflected their individual needs, preferences and daily routines. Care plans were reviewed regularly to make sure they were up to date. People received support from regular staff that knew them well and had developed positive relationships with them. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate.

Safe recruitment practices were in place and all staff had completed a thorough induction into their role. Staff received ongoing training and support for their role. People were supported by the right amount of suitably skilled and experience staff.

Risks to people had been identified and clear guidance was in place to minimise risk. People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff felt confident to raise concerns about abuse and had all completed training.

People had access to activities of their choice within the home and in the community. People spoke positively about the activities and also told us they went away on holidays if they wanted to. People were encouraged to maintain contact with friends and relatives.

Medication was managed safely by trained and competent staff. Staff had access to medicines policies and procedures as well as best practice guidelines. Medication administration records (MARS) were fully completed and regularly audited to identify any areas for development and improvement. Staff had received infection control training and understood how to minimise the risk of infection being spread.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected, and their independence promoted. People were positive about the staff and management team. We observed many positive interactions between people and the staff that supported them.

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.

The service 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 25 October 2016)

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.