Aram House

Updated 23 May 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 conducted by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Aram House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. Aram House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at all the information we held about the provider. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We met 4 people who lived at the service, the registered manager (who is also the director of the company) and 1 other member of staff. We spoke with 3 external professionals who work with people living at the service and the relative of 1 person.

We looked at records used by the provider for managing the service, including care records for people who lived there. We looked around the environment and observed people being supported, including support with their medicines.

Updated 23 May 2023

About the service

Aram House is a care home for up to 5 people who have mental health needs. There were 5 people living there at the time of the inspection. The service is operated by a private limited company, and this is their only location.

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

People were happy at the service. They were safe and well looked after. The service specialised in supporting people to move back into the community after hospital with the aim of increasing their independence, skills, confidence and improving their mental wellbeing. They did this successfully and had supported people to move to their own homes. Professionals working with the service praised the work there, with one professional tell us, ''This is our go to service for [people with these needs].''

People received support with their mental and physical health. The staff understood their needs and worked closely with other professionals to assess, plan for and review people's care. The staff made timely referrals and interventions when people needed support.

Risks were well managed with staff supporting people to make informed decisions about their lives and empowering them to manage their own risks. For example, people were supported to take responsibility for their own medicines, accessing the community and finances.

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.

There were enough suitable staff. They received the training and information they needed to care for people. They were well supported by the registered manager who worked directly with people and staff.

There were systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service. These included working closely with people using the service to understand their views and how they wanted to be cared for.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 11 December 2019).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated good and outstanding.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.