Rowans

Updated 1 May 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type: Rowans provides accommodation and personal care to people. Seven people were receiving a service at the time of the inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means 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: The inspection site visit took place on 11 April 2019, to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

What we did: Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed this information to help plan our inspection.

At the time of this inspection there were seven people living at the home. We were able to meet with people, but due to the complex nature of their disabilities they were unable to verbally tell us about their experiences of life at the service. So, we observed the care being delivered, including the midday meal, and within the communal living room.

On the day of inspection, we spoke with six people's relatives, three members of staff and the director of the company.

We looked at the written records in relation to three people's care and looked at records relating to the management of medicines, staff training, recruitment records and systems for monitoring the safety and quality of the service.

Updated 1 May 2019

About the service: Rowans is a care home. 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. Rowans can accommodate up to eight people who may have a learning disability, in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection, there were seven people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ Everyone we spoke with had nothing but praise. Comments made were, “[Name] has lived there for 25 years. I have to be honest, I couldn’t wish for a better place for [Name] to live. They understand [Name] down to a T.” And, “They are human being’s, and they are put at the centre. It's like a family environment and everyone is very, very happy.”

¿ Some improvements were needed to make the environment safer. We could access the electric cupboard and a cupboard with hot pipes. This posed a potential risk to people. We have made a recommendation about risk management.

¿ Some areas were cluttered, and the environment needed some improvements. The registered manager told us they were planning to improve the environment.

¿ 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.

¿ People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

¿ A range of activities was provided, which included involvement and use of local and wider community-based activities.

¿ People were cared for and supported by staff that understood their needs exceptionally well. Staff could understand people’s small gestures and noises and understood what they were saying.

¿ Staff treated people with dignity and respect and were sensitive to their needs. Staff worked with insight and could anticipate people’s needs in an individualised way.

¿ The service had systems in place to keep people safe, and staff followed these guidelines when they supported people. There were enough staff available to meet people’s care needs and people received their medication as prescribed and on time.

¿ A robust recruitment process in place. Staff had been recruited safely with the skills and knowledge to give care and support to people.

¿ People’s health and emotional needs were assessed, monitored and met in order for them to live well.

¿ The service worked closely with relevant health care professionals and people received the support they needed to have a healthy diet that met their individual needs and choices.

¿ Systems were in place to drive improvement and audits were carried out on a regular basis, which looked at the quality of the service people received. The registered manager had a clear oversight of the service.

¿ The needs of people were met by staff who had the right competencies, knowledge, skills, attitude, and behaviours, to carry out their role and responsibilities.

Rating at last inspection: This service was last rated Good. (9 September 2016)

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive, and inspect the service, if risk is indicated.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk