Background to this inspection
Updated
2 February 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team: This inspection was carried out by one 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: Henshaws Society for Blind People - 61 Kings Road Harrogate is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a new manager who registered with CQC on 19 December 2018. 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: We gave the service five days’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and we needed to be sure that people would be in.
What we did: We reviewed information we held about the service such as incidents the provider must notify us about. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team. We assessed the information we ask providers to send us at least once a year. This gives us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During our visit we spoke with three people who used the service, the registered manager, interim head of care and four members of staff. We looked at care records and associated medicine records for two people. We reviewed records relating to the running of the service including quality monitoring records, and records of checks carried out on the premises and equipment. We spoke with two relatives by telephone to gain their views.
Updated
2 February 2019
About the service: Henshaws Society for Blind People - 61 Kings Road Harrogate provides accommodation and personal care for five people who have learning disabilities or autism together with an additional sensory impairment. The service was providing care and support to four people at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service: The service met the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance such as Building the Right Support. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. Also, how people with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
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. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and ensure their safety. People were encouraged to identify goals to maximise their independence, build confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
Staff had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities for keeping people safe from harm. Medicines were handled safely and people were supported to receive their medicines as prescribed.
People’s care and support was developed in consultation with them and their relatives were involved, when appropriate. Care plans included guidance for staff to provide care and support in a way people preferred. People spoke positively about staff and felt they provided them with consistent care and support.
Effective management systems were in place to safeguard people and promote their wellbeing.
There was a new registered manager. The registered manager and staff were described as supportive and approachable. They were keen to make improvements to ensure people continued to receive high quality, individualised care and worked closely with other agencies and healthcare professionals to do this.
A full description of our findings can be found in the sections below.
Rating at last inspection: Good (report from last comprehensive inspection published 23 June 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last comprehensive inspection and to follow up on our findings of a focused inspection undertaken in June 2017.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.