Huthnance Park

Updated 18 March 2020

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Huthnance Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The registered manager sent us a provider information return (PIR). This is a document completed by the registered manager which contains information on how the service is developing and any planned improvements. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries. We sought feedback from the local authority and clinical commissioning group (CCG). We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection we met with two people to ask about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff, the deputy and registered manager. We reviewed people’s care and medication records. We looked at staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring systems.

Following the inspection

The registered manager sent us quality assurance information we requested during the inspection. We contacted health and social care professionals and relatives. We received email feedback from one member of care staff and one relative.

Updated 18 March 2020

About the service

Huthnance Park provides care and accommodation for up to five people who have autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of the inspection four people were living at the service. The service is part of the Green Light group who run several similar services throughout Cornwall, for people living on the autistic spectrum.

The people we met had complex learning disabilities and were not all able to tell us about their experiences of life at the home. We therefore used our observations of care and our discussions with staff, and feedback from a relative, to help form our judgements.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion.

People received personalised care which met their needs. People's care plans contained personalised information which detailed how they wanted their care to be delivered.

People were very relaxed and happy in the company of staff and the registered manager.

Staff knew people well and expressed care and affection for them and worked hard to enable people to share their views and live active lives as independently as possible.

People were supported to pursue their interests, hobbies and gain new skills. Staff were flexible and responded to people’s needs and wishes, adjusting activities accordingly, as well as exploring and trying new ideas with people.

Staff were recruited safely and there were sufficient numbers to ensure people’s care and social needs were met. Staff received induction, training and supervision to assist them to carry out their work.

People were safe and protected from avoidable harm or abuse. Staff were trained in safeguarding and were supported by effective policies.

Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were assessed and management plans were put in place to ensure these were reduced as much as possible.

People were supported to make choices and staff supported people in the least restrictive way as possible. Staff were aware of the legislation to protect people’s rights in making decisions.

Staff described how they supported people by treating them with respect and dignity. People participated in chosen activities and staff encouraged people to participate in things of interest to the them.

People were supported to access healthcare services, staff recognised changes in people's health, and sought professional advice appropriately. People were safely supported to take their medicines as prescribed.

There was strong leadership at the service and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. There was a positive culture at the service where staff felt listened to and supported.

The registered manager had quality assurance systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided.

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