Background to this inspection
Updated
7 August 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
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Royal Mencap Society - 97b Barnby Gate 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.
At the time of the inspection the service did not have a registered manager. The home manager was currently in the process of applying to become registered. This means that, when registered, 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 announced.
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with two members of staff including the manager, and care worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and medicine records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service and staffing 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 three relatives, five staff members and one professional who regularly visits the service.
Updated
7 August 2021
About the service
Royal Mencap Society - 97b Barnby Gate is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for five people who have learning disabilities. The service can support up to 6 people. The property is a single storey bungalow with a small private garden.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider's quality monitoring and governance processes were somewhat effective. The impact of this was seen in the way some audit failures and care planning issues had not been identified by the provider until we inspected.
The manager supported people to achieve good care outcomes and understood their responsibility to notify relevant authorities when incidents occurred. The service had a positive relationship with specialist health care agencies who were involved in supporting people at the care home
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 his practice.
People had person centred care plans. People were supported to access healthcare services, staff recognised changes in people's health, and sought professional advice appropriately. People were supported and provided with sufficient food and drink to meet their dietary needs.
People were protected from catching and spreading infections because risks were assessed and managed appropriately. Safeguarding systems and processes were in place. People received their medicines as prescribed for them. People were supported by a sufficient number of staff to meet their needs. Staff were recruited safely.
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.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The size of service met current best practice guidance. This promotes people living in a small domestic style property to enable them to have the opportunity of living a full life.
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 23 July 2020) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. 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 and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 22 May 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.
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.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Royal Mencap Society – 97b Barnby Gate 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.