Newlands

Updated 15 December 2021

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.

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 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.

Newlands 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

The first part of this inspection was announced and started on 08 October 2021 as part of our monitoring approach of services. The second part of the inspection was a visit to the service on 10 November 2021 and was unannounced.

What we did before 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. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

The Expert by Experience spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 15 December 2021

About the service

Newlands is a residential care home accommodating up to eight adults who have a learning disability, are autistic or have mental health needs. Five people were living at Newlands at the time of the inspection.

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

People, their relatives and staff shared concerns about staffing and use of agency. The registered manager provided reassurances, although several staff had left, new staff had been recruited. Where there were vacancies, or gaps in staffing these were being covered by consistent agency staff. The registered manager was in negotiation with the local authority to review funding for three people where their needs had changed to increase staff numbers.

Systems were in place to keep people safe. Risks to people were assessed, regularly reviewed and managed well to ensure their safety and promote their independence. Staff recruitment processes were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with people who used the service. Training was provided to staff including agency staff to ensure they had the right skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.

Infection prevention and control and medicines were being managed well including risks associated with COVID-19. People and staff had received COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to help minimise the risk of catching the infection.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. The registered manager and staff worked well with other professionals to ensure people had access to healthcare appointments and received the right support to manage their health needs.

People’s care plans were personalised to reflect how they wanted to be supported and what was important to them. Progress had been made to have conversations with people about their preferences regarding death and dying.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Right support:

The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and Independence. Newlands is a large detached single storey house situated in Colchester and close to all amenities. The premises provide each person with their own individual bedroom and adequate communal facilities. People had been involved in decisions about the refurbishment of their living accommodation to create a more modern and homely living environment. The environment met people's sensory and physical needs.

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 access the community, including college and places of interest.

Right care:

People’s care was person-centred. Staff were observed treating people with kindness, respect and compassion. Staff understood their responsibilities to respect people's human rights, including their right to privacy, confidentiality and to promote their independence.

Right culture:

People and their relatives told us the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the registered manager and care staff ensured people using service lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Relatives and staff told us the culture in the service had improved under the new registered manager. People using the service were encouraged to take an active role as ‘champions’ to promote good practice, such as encouraging people, staff and visitors to maintain good hand hygiene.

Improved systems were in place to identify and manage risks to the quality of the service and drive improvement. Regular audits of the service had been carried out to identify what was working well and where improvements were needed.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 13 August 2019). The previous inspection identified improvements were needed to the environment, hygiene and cleanliness and to ensure people’s care plans were person centred. Additionally, improvements were needed to ensure people were supported to access appointments to ensure their physical and mental health needs were met. The service had not explored how to have end of life conversations with people living with learning disabilities.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

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.