Background to this inspection
Updated
8 September 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 21 and 26 July 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Before the inspection we checked the information we held about the service including statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also contacted the health and social care commissioners who monitor the care and support of people living in their own home. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) which we reviewed. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During this inspection we spoke with four people living in the residential part of the service, met five people receiving personal care in their own homes and spoke with seven members of staff. We also spoke to the registered managers for this service, the regional manager and a local health and social care commissioner.
We spent time observing the care that people living in the service received to help us understand the experiences of people living in the home. We reviewed the care records of eight people that used the service and the recruitment records for seven members of staff. We also reviewed records relating to the management and quality assurance of the service. During our visits to people who were supported in their own homes we also observed the interactions between people and the staff who provided them with support.
Updated
8 September 2016
This inspection took place on the 21 and 26 July 2016 and was unannounced. Home Farm Trust Pound Lane Essex and Herts DCA provides accommodation and support in a residential environment for people with learning disabilities, some of whom may also have physical disabilities. HF Trust also provides a domiciliary care service where people with learning disabilities receive care and support in their own homes in the community.
At the time of our inspection there were 17 people living in the residential part of the service which was split across four separate cottages. There were also 25 people receiving personal care in their own homes.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.
People were supported by staff who consistently displayed understanding, empathy and warmth in their interactions with people. People consistently told us and our observations confirmed that staff had developed meaningful relationships with people. Staff had an enhanced knowledge about the people they cared for and understood how to meet their needs because they had a genuine interest in getting to know the people they worked with. Feedback from people and their relatives about the care they received was exceptionally complimentary acknowledging the exemplary approach of staff. The kindness, thoughtfulness and approach from staff consistently exceeded people’s expectations of how they would be cared for and supported.
Staff were passionate about their job and highly motivated to provide consistently excellent care to people. Staff found ways to support people creatively and give people the support they needed in order to achieve their own personal aspirations. People spoke about the positive impact this has on the way they are cared for, and this was reflected in the feedback we received from people living in the service.
People were treated with dignity and respect and there was a genuine ethos that people should be treated as equals. People were treated in a dignified manner with regard to personal interactions with staff, as well as having their rights upheld, such as the right to a particular religious belief, or the right to get married.
People were safeguarded from harm as the provider had systems in place to prevent, recognise and report concerns to the relevant authorities. Staff were confident in recognising and raising concerns if they felt people were at risk.
Staff knew their responsibilities as defined by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and had applied that knowledge appropriately. People were supported to make decisions for themselves and their consent was actively sought by staff.
There were sufficient numbers of experienced staff that were supported to carry out their roles to meet the assessed needs of people using the service. Staff received training in areas that enabled them to understand and meet the care needs of each person. Recruitment procedures protected people from receiving unsafe care from care staff unsuited to the role.
People’s care and support needs were continually monitored and reviewed to ensure that care was provided in the way that they needed. People had been involved in planning and reviewing their care when they wanted to.
People were supported to have sufficient amounts to eat and drink to maintain a balanced diet. Staff monitored people’s health and well-being and ensured people had access to healthcare professionals when required.
People’s needs were met in line with their individual care plans and assessed needs. Staff took time to get to know people and ensured that people’s care was tailored to their individual needs. People were actively supported to pursue their interests and to make and maintain relationships.
People were listened to, respected by staff and had their views acted upon. Staff exceeded people’s expectations in the caring support that they provided.
People had the information they needed to make a complaint and the service had processes in place to respond to any complaints.
People were supported by a team of staff that had the managerial guidance and support they needed to carry out their roles. The quality of the service was monitored by the audits regularly carried out by the manager and by the provider.