Background to this inspection
Updated
16 July 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
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
Rowland House 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 inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included safeguarding referrals and notifications of significant events. 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.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader and three rehabilitation assistants. We were not able to hear about people’s experience directly due to their communication needs but we observed the engagement and interaction people had with staff.
We reviewed two people’s care records, including their risk assessments and support plans. We looked at four staff recruitment files, accident and incident records, quality monitoring systems and the arrangements for managing medicines.
After the inspection
The registered manager sent us further information, including quality monitoring checks and audits. We spoke with seven family members about the care their loved ones received and heard feedback from two healthcare professionals who worked with the service.
Updated
16 July 2021
About the service
Rowland House is a care home without nursing for up to seven adults. The service specialises in the care of people with acquired brain injury, including Huntington’s disease. There were seven people living at the home at the time of our inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to provide safe and effective care. They understood people’s individual needs and the conditions they lived with. Any risks involved in people’s care were mitigated and managed effectively.
The provider operated safe recruitment procedures. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and know how to report any concerns they had.
People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff maintained appropriate standards of infection prevention and control.
The provider’s quality monitoring systems helped ensure people received safe care. Adverse events were analysed to identify any actions that could reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again and learning was shared with staff. Notifications of significant events were submitted to CQC appropriately.
The registered manager and staff worked effectively with other professionals involved in people’s care. Staff communicated well with people’s families and ensured they were kept up to date about people’s health and wellbeing.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 9 June 2018).
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 30 April 2018. We rated the Well-led key question requires improvement. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to meet the breach of legal requirements.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had made the required improvements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.
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.
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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.