Rosemary Cottage

Updated 20 December 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Rosemary Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Rosemary Cottage is a care home without nursing care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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 annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We communicated with three people who used the service about their experience of the care and support provided. Some people who used sign language were supported by staff to tell us about their experience. We spoke with the registered manager, two assistant managers and three staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care plans, associated risk assessments and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed. Following the inspection, we spoke with four relatives and three more staff.

Updated 20 December 2022

About the service

Rosemary Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care to up to six people. The service provides support to people with a learning disability and autistic people. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service. The service is a purpose-built property and accommodation is provided on one level, located in a rural area on the outskirts of Woodchurch village.

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

People and their relatives told us they were happy with the support they received. People told us, or indicated with a thumbs-up, that they felt safe living at Rosemary Cottage. Relatives told us they were happy with the care and support provided.

Some care files contained out of date information which made it difficult to find the most relevant information. For example, some files contained different versions of care plans. Care plan audits had not been completed regularly. Parts of the kitchen were an infection control risk due to peeling cupboards. The kitchen is due to be replaced in January 2023.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support:

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.

People were supported to make day to day choices and set goals and aspirations. When people needed support to make decisions with them, or on their behalf, staff followed appropriate processes to make sure decisions were made, with relevant people, in the person’s best interest.

Right Care:

Staff had good knowledge about keeping people safe and how to report any concerns. Staff completed training about how to recognise and report abuse. People’s care plans reflected their individual needs. There were enough skilled staff who knew people well. People had their medicines on time and as prescribed. Rosemary Cottage was clean, and people were generally protected from the risks of infection.

Right Culture:

Staff told us they felt valued and were supported well by the management team. There was a positive culture within the staff team and people were at the heart of the service. People and their relatives were closely involved in the planning of their care and support.

The management team completed checks and audits, such as environmental, medicines and infection control.

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 19 January 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires Improvement based on the findings at this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe and Well-Led sections of this report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Rosemary Cottage on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.