Redcroft is a care home service that does not provide nursing care. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home is registered to accommodate up to ten people and provides care and support for adults with learning disabilities . At the time of this inspection there were ten people living at the home. The home is situated in a residential area and has recently had an extension built that will provide a further two bedrooms. The new development has also provided a new conservatory and cabin in the enclosed garden. Redcroft was registered prior to the publication of Registering the Right Support. It reflects the values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance, except that it is larger than this guidance recommends. 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.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 31 July and 2 August 2018.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
Relatives , people living at the home and healthcare professionals were very positive about the service. The registered manager and directors had created a calm, empowering environment where people’s needs were met.
People were involved in developing goals and development of care plans. These were up to date and informed staff about how people wished to be supported. Staff had detailed knowledge of people’s needs and preferences which was used to assist people taking part in meaningful activities. These were arranged communally and individually, based on people’s own choice.
People were supported to exercise choice and supported to take calculated risks and have control over their lives. People were actively involved in the local community and supported to meet their needs.
The registered manager had good systems to make sure that the environment and the way people were looked after were safe. Risk assessments had been completed ensuring care was delivered safely with action taken to minimise identified hazards. The premises had also been risk assessed to make sure the environment was safe for people.
Staff had been trained in safeguarding adults and were knowledgeable about the types of abuse. They knew what action to take if they had concerns . Sufficient staff were employed at the home and staffing was planned flexibly to meet the needs of people accommodated. Staff had been recruited following robust recruitment policies and procedures. The staff team were both knowledgeable and suitably trained, well supported through supervision sessions with a line manager, and an annual performance review. Staff had good morale and knew people’s needs.
Accidents and incidents, although uncommon, were monitored to look for any trends where action could be taken to reduce chance of their recurrence.
Medicines were managed safely.
Staff and the manager were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted in people’s best interests where people lacked capacity to consent . The home was compliant with the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, with appropriate referrals being made to the local authority.
People were provided with a good standard of food and were fully involved in planning menus and what they wanted to eat.
People were treated compassionately. People received a high standard of care and support at Redcroft.
There were complaint systems in place and people made aware of how to complain.
Should people need to go into hospital, systems were in place to make sure that important information would be passed on so that people could experience continuity of care.
The home was well led. There was a very positive, open culture in the home, with staff having good morale and knowing people’s needs. There were systems in place to audit and monitor the quality of service provided to people.