29 May 2019
During a routine inspection
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.