Archived: Queens Retreat

Updated 22 August 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 checked 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.

This inspection took place on 25 July 2018 and was announced. We gave the service notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in. This inspection was completed by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We contacted the commissioners of the service to obtain their views about the care provided to people.

During our inspection we observed the care provided to three people and spent time speaking with them. We spoke with a representative of the provider, the acting manager and two members of staff. We had feedback from a social worker. We also considered a report by a local advocacy group giving feedback from a relative and a health care professional who had responded to their survey. We looked at the care records for three people, including their medicines records. We looked at the recruitment records for one new member of staff, training records and quality assurance systems. We had a walk around the environment and checked health and safety and infection control records.

Updated 22 August 2018

Queens Retreat 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. Queens Retreat can accommodate three people. At the time of our inspection there were three people living there who have a diagnosis of mental health and/or learning disability. They live in a detached house in a street in the middle of Cheltenham. They each have their own bedroom, which they have personalised and share a bathroom, kitchen, lounge, dining room/conservatory. The garden is accessible and has patio furniture.

Queens Retreat has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support, Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This inspection took place on 25 July 2018. At the last comprehensive inspection in March 2016 the service was rated as Good overall.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service was responsive to people’s needs and highly personalised care and support was delivered which reflected people’s aspirations, hopes and routines important to them. The provider, registered manager and staff had developed a strong person centred working culture. Staff understood people really well, anticipating their feelings and emotions, treating them respectfully, with patience and sensitivity. People’s needs had been assessed and they were involved in developing their care and support with staff. They were fully involved in the planning of their care and making decisions about their lifestyle choices.

People’s independence was actively encouraged. They were provided with training to equip them with the skills and confidence to learn new tasks. People felt safe living in the home and using their local community without staff support. They enjoyed a wide range of activities which reflected their hobbies and lifestyle choices. People had been supported to participate in voluntary work and paid employment. People’s diversity was acknowledged and respected. Staff advocated on their behalf and promoted their rights and wishes.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. They chose and prepared their meals which reflected their likes and dislikes whilst promoting a healthy diet. Each person had a health action plan which described their health care needs. They had annual check-ups with their GP and regular reviews with another specialist healthcare professional. People’s changing health care needs were closely monitored. Staff supported them with compassion, sensitivity and reassurance through changes in their health care needs. People managed their own medicines.

People were supported by staff flexibly to ensure their individual needs were met. Staff had been through a satisfactory recruitment process. Staff felt supported in their roles and had access to refresher training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Staff were knowledgeable about people, their backgrounds and individual needs. Staff understood how to keep people safe and were confident any concerns they raised would be listened to and the appropriate action taken in response.

People were fully involved in changes about their accommodation and service provision. Their opinions and views were sought. They had agreed to move together to new accommodation in Gloucester. The registration of this home with the Care Quality Commission was in hand. Staff and managers listened to people and empowered them to make decisions. People talked with staff daily about any issues as they arose. The acting manager worked alongside staff enabling them to lead by example and to monitor the quality of care provided.

The provider had quality assurance processes in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. The acting manager completed internal audits to oversee health and safety checks, care records, infection control and staff training.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.