Housteads

Updated 5 February 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Housteads 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We contacted Sheffield local authority, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Healthwatch (Sheffield). Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We did not request the provider to send us the provider information return on this occasion. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, cook, activity coordinator and three members of staff. We spent time speaking with seven people who used the service, five visiting relatives. We spent time looking round all areas of the service. We reviewed three people’s care records including medicines administration records and looked at other records relating to care and the running of the service.

Updated 5 February 2020

About the service

Housteads is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 40 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. There were 32 people living at Housteads at the time of inspection. The home is situated in the Richmond area of Sheffield, close to local amenities and transport links. Accommodation is based on the ground floor. All of the bedrooms are single and communal lounges and dining rooms are provided. The home has a secure enclosed garden and car park.

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

Medicines were managed well, so people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff meetings were held every three months. Staffing was appropriate to meet people’s needs and staff were visible at all times during the inspection. Robust recruitment procedures ensured suitable staff were employed. People were supported by staff who understood how to identify and report potential abuse. People told us they felt very safe and risks to people’s health and safety were managed well. When accidents or incidents occurred, learning was identified to reduce the risk of them happening again.

There was a positive leadership in the service. People and their relatives spoke highly of the staff and registered manager. The registered manager was interviewing for new staff at the time of inspection, however was very visible in the home. Audits and monitoring procedures were in place and since the last inspection these included a fire and risk assessment plan, these were used effectively to manage the service and to make improvements where needed.

People's care plans reflected the person current needs. Staff said they read and followed care plans and knew people well. People's wishes regarding their end of were in place if and when required. People had access to a good range of activities and told us they enjoyed these. We observed this on inspection. People and relatives were confident to raise issues and concerns. Complaints procedures were effective.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People had the support they needed to maintain a balanced diet and good health. Staff received training and support they needed to give them the knowledge and skills needed to care for people safely and effectively.

Staff promoted very caring relationships with the people who lived at the service. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted independence, equality and diversity throughout. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and delivery of their care. Relative’s told us they felt welcome and involved in the home.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (20 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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

Follow up

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.